The iconic photo tells the story: LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Stephen Curry huddle triumphantly after stunning Serbia, their roars of joy contrasting with Anthony Edwards’ wide-eyed awe as the presumptive future face of Team USA.

The trio of NBA titans—masters of skill, legacy, and global influence—delivered a literal “Hail Mary” performance, erasing a 17-point deficit to defeat Serbia 95-91 and secure a spot in the Paris Olympics gold medal game. Their contributions were nothing short of monumental:

• Curry, shrugging off subpar shooting in prior games, drained a FIBA-universe-defying 9-of-14 three-pointersfor 36 points and a +20 plus-minus.
• James, calm as ever in 33 minutes, posted a 16-12-10 triple-double(+15).
• Durant, held to 9 points overall, delivered 7 crucial points in the fourth quarter, including a game-turning three-point play with 7:19 remaining.

Joel Embiid also stepped up, converting 8-of-11 shots for 19 points (+15) against Nikola Jokić. Conversely, Anthony Edwards struggled, scoring just 2 points in 13 minutes as Team USA was outscored by 14 during his time on court. The torch will pass to Edwards someday—but not in Paris.

Coach Steve Kerr’s starting lineup—LeBron, Steph, Devin Booker, KD, and Anthony Davis—signaled an offensive-first strategy. The turning point came when Durant drew a 3+1 foul after Davis’ screen on Jokić resulted in a collision that sent both players sprawling, marking Jokić’s fourth foul.

Durant’s defensive resurgence—guarding point guard Vasilije Micić and Bogdan Bogdanović—paired with Embiid’s inside-out scoring (including a step-back jumper over Jokić to cut the lead to 82-84) fueled the comeback. Curry capped his historic night with a 9th three-pointer to give Team USA its first lead, while LeBron tied the game at 84-84 with a driving layup, forcing a Serbian timeout.

The final 11 points were all Durant, Curry, and James, reminiscent of Team USA’s 2008 “Redeem Team” against Spain. But unlike that game, Serbia led for most of the night, underscoring the shrinking gap in global basketball.

The Final Showdown awaits against France, whose lineup has evolved due to Rudy Gobert’s limited minutes post-surgery. With Victor Wembanyama as the tactical focal point, France relies on Hébert, Yabusele, and Nicolas Batum’s defensive intensity. Their semifinal comeback against Germany saw Hébert and Yabusele dominate, while Germany’s World Champion duo Dennis Schröder (18 points, 3 blocks by Wembanyama) and Franz Wagner (10 points) faltered.

France’s formula—two games old—faces its sternest test against LeBron, KD, and Steph. While Wembanyama’s growth is undeniable7, can a team with limited playoff-caliber experience withstand the trio’s championship grit? The odds favor Team USA’s dynasty—for now.

As the curtain falls on this era, the torch glimmers for Edwards, Jayson Tatum, and Tyrese Haliburton. In Los Angeles 2028, they’ll face the same question: Can they carry the legacy?