The 2024 Olympic semifinal between Team USA and Serbia is already etched into basketball lore. Many dubbed it the greatest international game ever played, and for good reason. Serbia, led by Nikola Jokic and a fearless supporting cast, controlled the game for 35 minutes.
At one point late in the third quarter, they were up by 15 after Marko Guduric converted a stunning four-point play. The shock of the century was brewing.
But then LeBron James took over.
Although Stephen Curry will forever be remembered for his nine three-pointers and game-high 36 points, it was LeBron who shifted the balance of the contest with his intelligence, leadership, and clutch plays down the stretch. Serbian guard Ognjen Dobric admitted as much when speaking about the game on the Jao Mile podcast.
(Translated from Serbian)
“Bro, LeBron is so far ahead of everyone else on that team. Like, Curry, when he plays as the main playmaker, that’s one thing. But when he plays as a shooter next to LeBron, with LeBron bringing the ball up and then creating offense for him, for everyone else, it’s a totally different story.”
“He sees passes a second earlier. He throws passes that aren’t even there yet; you just need to run into the spot, you know? Do you realize what kind of IQ that is?”
That sequence in the fourth quarter proved Dobric’s point. With Serbia leading by 13 entering the final period, LeBron opened the quarter with a tough fadeaway jumper that sparked the comeback.
His defensive focus intensified as he bodied Jokic on key possessions, denying Serbia the easy touches they had thrived on earlier. When the game reached 84-84, the momentum was gone from Serbia’s hands and firmly in Team USA’s control.
Then came the dagger moments: with Team USA up 87-86, LeBron went coast-to-coast for a bruising layup through contact, putting the Americans ahead by three. Seconds later, Curry capitalized on a Serbian turnover with a bucket, and the game was essentially sealed.
The numbers tell the story of LeBron’s influence. In that semifinal, he logged a triple-double with 16 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists, serving as the connective tissue for a roster loaded with stars.
While Curry’s shooting flurry grabbed the headlines, LeBron’s fingerprints were everywhere: in the defensive rotations, the pace-pushing outlet passes, and the calm he instilled when the Americans seemed on the brink of collapse.
LeBron’s steady brilliance carried beyond that game. Throughout the tournament, he averaged 14.2 points, 6.8 rebounds, 8.5 assists, and 1.3 steals, making him the most complete player in Paris.
Curry led the team in scoring with 14.8 points per game and was spectacular from deep, but LeBron was the stabilizer. He dictated tempo, ensured everyone touched the ball, and played the role of vocal leader that kept Team USA composed in tense moments.
Even in the gold medal game against France, LeBron’s imprint was undeniable. He tallied 14 points, 10 assists, and six rebounds, guiding the offense with patience and poise. At 39 years old, in what was likely his final Olympic run, he showed that his mind and leadership remained as sharp as ever.
For Serbia, the semifinal will forever sting. They had the mighty Americans wobbling, Jokic was putting up MVP-caliber numbers, and the upset was within reach. But as Dobric admitted, there was one element they couldn’t account for: the difference-maker who could bend the game without always scoring the most points.
LeBron James wasn’t just another star in Paris. He was the conductor of Team USA’s orchestra. And in that unforgettable semifinal, he proved once again why, even at the twilight of his career, he remained basketball’s ultimate difference-maker.
