After a 12-year hiatus, LeBron James returned to the Olympics, marking his comeback alongside Kevin Durant, who took to the court for the first time this summer. The two seasoned Olympians led the US team to a commanding 110-84 victory over Serbia on Sunday, showcasing an almost flawless performance.
Durant came off the bench and made his first eight shots, scoring 23 points in under 17 minutes. James contributed 21 points, nine assists, and seven rebounds, as the duo shot a remarkable 18 for 22 from the field—Durant going 8 of 9 and James 9 of 13. The US team easily outmatched the reigning World Cup silver medalists, with notable contributions from Jrue Holiday (15 points), Devin Booker (12), and both Anthony Edwards and Stephen Curry with 11 points each.
“That’s the best game we’ve played so far,” stated James, as the Americans improved to 6-0 this summer, marking their opening win in the crucial tournament.
Durant had missed most of Team USA’s pre-Olympic preparations due to a calf injury, making his summer court debut on Sunday. He came off the bench as the fifth sub, marking one of the rare instances in his career—only the fourth in his last 1,320 games—that he did not start.
However, once on the floor, Durant showcased his impressive abilities, shooting with precision from all over the court.
Although Durant shined on court, Joel Embiid faced a hostile atmosphere from French fans, regardless of whether he was playing or not.
The Sixers center opted to represent the US instead of France at the Paris Games, which did not sit well with the local crowd. Embiid was consistently booed from the pregame introductions to his time on the bench and every time he touched the ball.
French fans hoped to see Embiid alongside NBA stars Victor Wembanyama and Rudy Gobert representing the host nation. Despite obtaining French citizenship in 2022 without having lived in France, Embiid declined the opportunity to play for Cameroon and ultimately chose to play for the US, where he received his US passport the same year.
Embiid previously mentioned wanting to play for Team USA due to his son’s birthplace, but that sentiment was lost on the French fans in attendance on Sunday.
Serbia’s team was led by three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokić, who scored 20 points, while Bogdan Bogdanović added 14.
Prior to the tournament, Serbia’s coach, Svetislav Pešić—who faced off against the legendary 1992 Olympic Dream Team—remarked that this US squad is even more formidable. When US coach Steve Kerr heard these comments, he dismissed them with a chuckle.
“When Chuck Daly coached the Dream Team, he never called timeout,” Kerr noted.
Kerr found it necessary to call a timeout just three minutes into the Olympics when Serbia jumped to a 10-2 lead, forcing the Americans into an early deficit. He quickly subbed Embiid for Anthony Davis, and the team’s dynamic shifted; a three-point play by James midway through the first quarter secured the US’s first lead, followed by a lob assist from James to Edwards, ending the first quarter at 25-20 in favor of the Americans.
From there, Durant took charge, finishing the first half shooting 8-for-8 and capping it off with a fadeaway basket at the halftime buzzer, giving the US a 58-49 lead. The gap widened as Edwards made a crafty baseline score against Serbia’s Nikola Jović, increasing the margin to 84-65 after the third quarter—a move that had Curry celebrating on the sideline, mimicking a gaming controller.
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“It’s crucial to start strong in this tournament since every game carries significant weight,” Curry commented after his Olympic debut. “We only have six games to reach the gold, and, of course, Serbia poses a great challenge with their intricate offense and tough defense. KD was phenomenal in the first half, giving us a massive lift, and our defense in the second half opened things up.”
The US men’s team aims to secure their fifth consecutive Olympic gold medal at the Paris Games. They are set to play again on Tuesday against the rising team from South Sudan, a rematch from an exhibition in London earlier this month, where the US narrowly won 101-100.
Meanwhile, Serbia will face Puerto Rico on the same day, potentially making it an elimination match for both squads.
