After salvaging a stunning comeback victory against Team Serbia in a 95-91 semifinal nail-biter, the Team USA men’s basketball program is looking to secure its fifth straight gold medal, in a rematch of the Tokyo Olympics final in 2021.
Team France, now led by 20-year-old burgeoning San Antonio Spurs superstar center Victor Wembanyama, vanquished Team Germany in its semifinal bout, and will now try to embrace its home-nation advantage against the Americans on Saturday in Paris.
Read More: USA Basketball Makes Incredible Comeback to Beat Serbia, Advance to Olympics Gold Medal Match
The U.S. squad is set to make a major rotation change that, frankly, it should have made a while ago.
Head coach Steve Kerr intends to promote the most prolific scorer in Team USA basketball history, Phoenix Suns All-NBA power forward Kevin Durant, to a starting role, sources inform Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium. Per Charania, All-Defensive Second Team Boston Celtics combo guard Jrue Holiday will be demoted to a bench role.
Why Holiday, one of the premiere perimeter defenders in the world, is being moved to the bench and not All-Star Suns shooting guard Devin Booker, is a bit of a head-scratcher. Yes, Booker has had some clutch moments throughout this Olympic run, but neither he nor Durant is, at present, an elite defender.
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Durant and Booker will be joined in the Americans’ starting lineup by Los Angeles Lakers All-NBA combo forward LeBron James, Golden State Warriors All-NBA point guard Stephen Curry, and All-Star Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid.
Read More: Team Serbia Star, Coach Blame Refs for Late Semifinal Loss to USA Basketball
James, for one, knows he’s probably playing in his last Olympic game on Saturday.
“It’s up there. I’m 39 years old, it’s my 22nd season. I don’t know how many opportunities and moments I’m going to get like this to be able to compete for something, to be able to compete for something big and play big games. And tonight was a big game,” James said after the team’s semifinal matchup against Serbia, per BasketNews.
How To Watch
The matchup is slated to tip off at 12:30 p.m. PT/3:30 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on NBC and its streaming affiliate Peacock, plus streaming platforms Fubo and Sling TV.
Predictions
According to BetMGM Sportsbook, the U.S. is a -16.5 point favorite to take home its fifth consecutive gold medal. Durant, 35, would win a record-setting fourth gold medal.
