Olympics: US NBA stars win gold but Spain gives them a challenge

Monday, 25 August 2008

BEIJING - Kobe Bryant provided a vital late spark as the United States reclaimed Olympic basketball supremacy on Sunday, defeating world champion Spain 118-107 to bring the Americans their 13th gold medal.

Dwyane Wade scored 27 points to lead the Americans while Bryant added 20, LeBron James contributed 14 and Carmelo Anthony scored 13 for the US squad of National Basketball Association stars who found redemption for a 2004 flop.

Wade, James and Anthony were all frustrated reserve members of the US team that settled for bronze at the 2004 Olympics, sparking the golden quest of this US "Redeem Team" to reclaim global supremacy for basketball's birthplace.

"We were at America's lowest point in '04," Anthony said. "We did a hell of a job putting America back where it belongs, on top of the world."

A day after his 30th birthday, Bryant smiled and said, 'Oh my God,' as he watched the Stars and Stripes rise while the US anthem played, having already bitten his medal and found the taste of gold sweeter than his three NBA titles.

"It is more important and more special than any championship that any of us will ever win," Bryant said.

It was a game the NBA superstar multi-millionaires had waited for years to play and they were not about to lose.

"We put our time and hearts into this. To come through and finally win the gold medal not just for ourselves but for America, it means a lot," James said. "It means everything to me. It's so rewarding to see your hard work pay off."

But the Spaniards gave the US stars their toughest Olympic fight, staying within two points with eight minutes to play.

Rudy Fernandez sank a three-pointer with 8:13 remaining to pull the Spanish within 91-89, the closest they had been since the first eight minutes and that any team in the Olympics had been to the Americans so late in a game.

"They were unbelievable," James said. "They countered our game plan by making some incredible plays. Every possession counted. If it wasn't for our determination we wouldn't have pulled it through."

Bryant entered after a US timeout to regroup and sparked a 12-3 run, scoring five points and making two assists. Pau Gasol, Bryant's NBA teammate, answered with four points to pull Spain within 104-99.

But Bryant replied with a pivotal four-point play - sinking a three-pointer, being fouled and adding a free throw.

"Dwyane made a couple big plays and we all know Kobe likes the ball down the stretch," Gasol said. "We played well. We almost had it. We fought to the end. We had a chance."

Spain closed within 108-104 but Wade hit a three-pointer and added lay-in off a pass from Bryant with 71 seconds remaining to seal Spain's fate.

"That probably goes down as one of the greatest games in Olympic history," James said. "The intensity was unbelievable. It was crazy for us."

In the final seconds, US players began hugging each other with joy. Wade, James and Anthony sought each other out and stood in awe of their achievement.

"The moment is special," Wade said. "All three of us took time out and took the moment in. Being part of the '04 Olympic team and not getting to show our talent, we really wanted to win this."

Americans had lost only twice in Olympic history until 2004, when they dropped round robin games to Puerto Rico and Lithuania and fell to eventual champion Argentina in the Athens semi-finals, settling for bronze medals.

A shock loss to Greece in the 2006 world championship semi-finals left the Americans with bronze again, but the US team has not lost since, avenging the losses to Greece and Argentina with Olympic triumphs.

"Everybody talks about NBA players being selfish and arrogant," Bryant said. "What you saw out there was a team coming together and playing as a team."

The US team improved to 10-0 against Spain in the Olympics, including a victory in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics gold medal game. The US team routed Spain 119-82 last week in preliminary round play but this was far different.

Fernandez scored 22 to lead Spain while Gasol added 21.

"It was a wonderful game but unfortunately we lost," Gasol said. "We kept ourselves with a chance the whole game, which says a lot about this team. We played a tough game. We never backed down. We should be proud."