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"Oh no, don't do that, don't do that!" Sorry Stephon Marbury, but the Chef did THAT!
The Golden Dagger. A shot, call, and line that will live forever in the core of sports history. Stephen Curry once again has stolen the moment on a grand stage; this time doing so on the grandest of 'em all in some folks' eyes to help elevate the United States of America to it's 5th consecutive Gold medal at the Olympic Games. Curry has stunned and awed the basketball world again, but it was the first time the Olympic stage felt his aura, and oh-my did he bring that aura. Maybe to the highest degree we have ever seen in his 18-year playing career (post HS). I am not exaggerating. Curry's final 2-game performance was one of the most exhilarating moments at the Olympics, and in some time across sports.
The Olympics in my eyes, had it's best moments on the Men's hardwood, starting from the Final-4, to the Gold medal game. Along with Turkey's sharp-shooter Yusuf Dikeç, of course (that guy is awesome). The meeting between Serbia & USA to earn a spot in the Gold Medal game was arguably the greatest Olympic basketball game ever played... at least in the 21st-century (it's the best I have ever seen or known). The raw emotion, intent, skill, and unity was bone-chilling and the very spectacle that sports was made to create. One of those battles that brought all parties together to enjoy. Felt like the Avengers versus Thanos. Nikola Jokić vs. the NBA's three most elite names of the past decade+ with their band of stars behind 'em. You ask those three, Durant-James-Curry- I bet they say that the game versus Serbia was one of the toughest games of their basketball careers. LeBron even got postered; giving us the best dunk since Vince Carter's leap:
photo via Catherine Steenkeste
You can't look at the box-score and evaluate from there. It was a game you had to experience. Jokić may not pop off the box score, but he was in one of the more unreal-godly modes we have ever seen on the hardwood. Team USA had to fight, punch, and CLAW to beat him (and Bogdan Bogdanović). Coach Kerr and Team USA relied on constant pressure to eventually fatigue Joker to cause mistakes (which worked), then put the faith in the hands of two of the greatest players in basketball history: King James & Chef Curry.
LeBron and Steph were unreal in that game. James posted a triple-double and was a maestro at setting up the offense as well as being a game-breaker on the defensive side of the floor. Curry? What's there to say besides that he logged in one of, if not THE best shooting performances in Olympic history. Chef opened up the kitchen to drop 36-points, 9 trey balls, and 8 boards to play spoil and be the ultimate blow to keep Serbia's celebrations to just Bronze standard (still an awesome feat for Serbia). The 36 points was just one point shy of tying Carmelo Anthony's single Olympic-game record for Team USA. Curry is the only player in basketball history to drop a 35-burger in a NCAA, NBA, and Olympic game in their career (Melo's game high was 33 for 'Cuse). Bask in Curry's glory with quick highlights of the legendary performance:
video via @Derrick_Ayim10//X
Surely there was no chance for Steph to follow up that performance in grander fashion against Team France, right? Wrong. The overall performance may have been lower, but considering the moment, stage, and his 4th-Q against France, it was grander in my eyes. Curry reminded us his greatness level; and made us sour that we had to wait until he was 36 to play in the world Games. Curry proved how stone-cold he is. Curry proved he is the greatest shooter in the history of the game of basketball.
Goodness do I wish we had Mike Breen on the call for that game. Maybe good it couldn't happen; his double... perhaps first ever triple-bang could have started a world war. Curry hit four mega-threes in the final three minutes, with this one being the nastiest and most legendary dagger of all-time:
video via @wonheebuuburner//X
Chef Curry is just flat-out unbelievable. Just a legendary shot; in a legendary moment, to add to his legendary career. Curry finished with 8-threes and 24 points in the finale for a final collection of 60 points, 17 trey balls, and a 65.4% three-point shooting percentage in the final two games. The definition of clutch. The definition of legendary. It was surreal to feel his aura takeover a game on the Olympic stage. It was long over-due and unfortunately a one time extravaganza. Peep the sequence of shots that will live in Olympic & Basketball history:
video via NBC Olympics//X
Team USA's win is one that will need to be cherished. Not only was it thrilling to see them face some obstacles in route to their gold, but it's likely the one and only time we will ever see Durant, Curry, and James on the same floor together in quest for Olympic gold. Even more depressing than that? It may have been the last time we see either cat bless the Olympics with their play. If it is, then it was one helluva ride. KD's 4 Golds hold the record for the most Gold medals for a male-hooper (Diana Taurasi has all-time record with 6), while LeBron tied Melo with three, for the 2nd-most all-time. Durant also would end his tenure as the all-time leading scorer, with Bron ending his as the man right behind KD.
It was a thrilling experience at the Paris Games on the hardwood. Seeing Curry activate his game-breaker in the homeland of Team France to send them home in despair while their announce team is screaming the "Devil Curry". Such a legendary moment; one I will surely never forget. Chef Curry was cookin' up gold. Kobe Bryant's spirit is content and proud. Shoutout to Team USA on their epic accomplishment. They did their country proud. Who gon stop 'em? Who gon stop 'em, huh? Enjoy this epic flick of Curry's shot over Wembanyama by Getty's Ezra Shaw on your way out:
photo via Ezra Shaw // Getty Images
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