After one of the most thrilling basketball games in Olympic history in their semifinal against Serbia, the United States men’s basketball team is ready for its final test. LeBron James, Steph Curry, Kevin Durant and Co. will take on the host country France for the gold medal on Saturday evening in Paris.
While reigning NBA Rookie of the Year Victor Wembanyama has contributed to France’s success, lesser-known players like Guerschon Yabusele and Isaia Cordinier have also starred en route to the final. France rolled over Germany in the semifinals and Greece in the quarters, while the United States ran through Brazil in their quarterfinal before their semifinal scare against Serbia.
It’s sure to be an unfriendly environment for Team USA at Bercy Arena, but can they get it done to win their fifth consecutive gold medal?
How to watch Olympic gold medal game, USA vs. France
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Date: Saturday, August 10
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Time: 3:30 p.m. ET | 12:30 p.m. PT
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Location: Bercy Arena | Paris, France
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Channel: USA Network, NBCOlympics.com, Peacock, Fubo
Follow along with Yahoo Sports for all the live updates, highlights and more as Team USA takes on host country France for a gold medal.
Live3 updates
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Rendezvous with history?
The fans at Paris’ Bercy Arena are ready for a “rendezvous with history” as a banner in the stands says:
Two hours before tipoff of the men’s basketball gold medal game between the USA and France, a huge banner stretches across three sections of seats at Bercy Arena in Paris: “Rendez-vous avec l’histoiry” pic.twitter.com/VE2CWjh0O5
— Ben Golliver (@BenGolliver) August 10, 2024
Thus far, the history between the United States and France in men’s basketball is a 6–1 record for Team USA. That includes a U.S. 87–82 victory in the Tokyo Olympics’ gold medal game four years ago.
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Team USA starting lineup
As The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported Friday night, USA coach Steve Kerr plans to start Kevin Durant in the gold medal game vs. France. Jrue Holiday will come off the bench as a result.
Team USA is planning to start all-time leading scorer Kevin Durant vs. France in Saturday’s Gold Medal game at the Paris Olympics, per sources. Jrue Holiday is expected to come off the USA bench. pic.twitter.com/UrYgyhyTUY
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 9, 2024
So the U.S. starting five will look like this:
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Kevin Durant
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Stephen Curry
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Devin Booker
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LeBron James
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Joel Embiid
France has not yet announced its starting lineup. Coach Vincent Collet replaced Rudy Gobert with Victor Wembanyama before the quarterfinal matchup with Canada for a small-ball lineup and stuck with it versus Germany.
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France stats: The Victor Wembanyama show
Victor Wembanyama leads France in points (13.8), rebounds (10.2) and assists (3.6) per game during the Olympic men’s basketball tournament.
Victor Wembanyama (32), of France celebrates after beating Germany during the men’s basketball semifinals at the 2024 Summer Olympics. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) France coach Vincent Collet replaced Rudy Gobert with Wembanyama before the quarterfinal matchup with Canada. The small-ball lineup resulted in wins over Canada and Germany.
Additionally, Guerschon Yabusele and Isaïa Cordinier are more familiar with FIBA-style basketball, and helped to create more spacing and playmaking around Wembanyama.