It was viewed as a no-win situation.
Yet the United States Olympic basketball team could not fathom the mortification of becoming the first American squad consisting of NBA players to be denied a gold medal.
“I don’t think we would even want to go home. We would definitely be the goats of the Olympics,” said guard Jason Kidd, who helped the Americans defeat France 85-75 in the gold-medal game Sunday at the Sydney Superdome.
With NBA Commissioner David Stern in the stands, a largely anti-American crowd watched coach Rudy Tomjanovich’s team win with balanced scoring and much more efficient execution than it demonstrated in Friday’s close-call semifinal victory over Lithuania.
The Americans led 46-32 at the half as France shot only 29 percent from the field. The Americans dominated the boards 22-10 before the intermission. Vince Carter, targeted for the most vocal boos because of his perceived hot-dogging throughout the Olympic tournament, seemed to revel in the negative spotlight by scoring nine first-half points and making two steals.
France, moving the ball and working the shot clock, got within four points with just over four minutes remaining, but Ray Allen hit two jumpers, Alonzo Mourning made 2-of-3 free throws and Carter threw down a monster dunk off a Kevin Garnett feed to keep the U.S. out of trouble.
The lead grew to 10 at 82-72 on two Garnett baskets and two Mourning free throws.
The 10-point margin was the U.S.’ smallest in a gold-medal game since the NBA joined the Olympic movement, and Stern said he foresees the day when an American Dream Team is dethroned.
“But hopefully not on my watch,” he added with a laugh. “I would watch it from my retirement home. The reality is the international game is catching up.
“I think in Athens [at the 2004 Olympics] you’re going to see teams coming and expecting to play at an equal level with the NBA.”
The Americans staved off every attempt made by France to make a competitive game of the championship. Afterward, they exchanged high-fives with the U.S. women’s team, which won gold earlier in the day.
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In the bronze-medal game, Lithuania coasted past host Australia 89-71. Former Bull Luc Longley did not play after injuring his right knee late in Australia’s loss to France. Longley, who was traded from the Phoenix Suns to the New York Knicks during the Olympics, is expected to be out eight to 10 weeks.