Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr has been involved in a fair few momentous games over the years. Kerr has nine NBA championships to his name as a player and coach, but his pick for the greatest game he’s ever been involved in was on the international stage. On the Glue Guys Podcast, he revealed that the semifinal clash between Team USA and Serbia at the 2024 Olympics was the best of the lot.
“The Serbia game was the greatest basketball game I’ve ever been involved with,” Kerr said. “We were lucky to win, but we had to make every play, and our guys did it down the stretch. It was incredible.”
Kerr played alongside Michael Jordan during the Chicago Bulls‘ second three-peat from 1996 to 1998, but still has that semifinal clash as the greatest game. It just speaks to how special a night that was, and that game was one that no one will ever forget.
Serbia led by as many as 17 points in the second quarter and took a 13-point lead into the fourth. It appeared as if Team USA’s dominance at the Olympics was about to come to an end, but the big guns then stepped up.
Stephen Curry, LeBron James, and Kevin Durant all contributed as the U.S. won the fourth quarter 32-15 to complete a stunning comeback to win 95-91. Curry was the star of the night, with 36 points (12-19 FG), eight rebounds, two assists, and one steal. He came up big once again when Kerr needed him the most.
After the game, Curry stated it was the most fun he had had in a very long time. An elated Durant, meanwhile, made it clear it was a night he’d remember for the rest of his life. Those players showed that the U.S. wasn’t relinquishing the crown just yet.
While an explosion from Curry never surprises anyone, he had scored just 29 points combined in the group stage and the quarterfinals. It was looking like a tournament to forget, but he raised his game when his country needed him the most.
Curry then went on to dazzle in the gold medal game as well, scoring 24 points to lead Team USA to a 98-87 win over France.
“The France game was about Steph and finishing the game with those four threes in the last couple of minutes,” Kerr stated. “Just iconic and incredible to be part of that and have that memory.”
That final will be remembered for Curry’s “golden dagger” in the closing stages of the contest. Despite Nicolas Batum and Evan Fournier being all over him, the two-time MVP let it fly to all but end France’s hopes.
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This was likely to be the first and only Olympics that Curry participated in, and he ensured he came away with the gold medal. It was the only thing missing from his stellar resume.
Kerr has also reportedly stepped down as head coach, and these two now have their eyes set on winning another title with the Warriors.
