The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Men's Basketball's Durant leads Team USA to gold at Paris Olympics
08.10.2024 | Men's Basketball
Former Longhorn Legend posts 15 points in 98-87 victory against host France to become the first USA men’s basketball player to win four Olympic gold medals.
PARIS, France — Former University of Texas standout Kevin Durant recorded 15 points to lead Team USA to a 98-87 win against host France in the gold medal game at the 2024 Paris Olympics on Saturday night inside Bercy Arena. Durant is the first men's player in USA Basketball history to capture four gold medals, as he also led Team USA to the gold at the 2012 London Games, the 2016 Rio Games and the 2020 Tokyo Games.
Durant converted 5-of-12 field goals, including 3 three-pointers, and 2-of-2 free throws to go along with four rebounds, four assists, one blocked shot and one steal in 31 minutes during Saturday's win against France.
In his four career Olympic Gold Medal games, Durant has now averaged 26.0 points per contest. He posted 30 in the 2012 gold medal victory over Spain in London, 30 in the 2016 gold medal win against Serbia in Rio, 29 in the 2020 gold medal victory over France and 15 in Saturday's win against France.
During his six contests at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Durant averaged 13.8 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 22.2 minutes per game. He converted 27-of-50 (.540) from the floor, including 14-of-27 (.519) from three-point range, and 15-of-16 (.938) free throws and posted a plus-minus total of plus-84 in the six games.
Durant is the third Longhorn men's basketball player to earn a gold medal, joining Gilbert "Gib" Ford (USA, 1956) and Jay Arnette (USA, 1960). He is the fourth player in UT Men's Basketball history to compete in the Olympics, as Albert Almanza also represented Mexico in 1960 and 1964. Former Longhorn Royal Ivey also served as head coach for South Sudan in the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Texas Men's Basketball Players who have Participated in the Olympic Games
|
Year (Site) |
Player |
Country |
Team Result |
|
1956 (Melbourne) |
Gib Ford |
United States |
Gold Medal |
|
1960 (Rome) |
Jay Arnette |
United States |
Gold Medal |
|
1960 (Rome) |
Albert Almanza |
Mexico |
12th Place |
|
1964 (Tokyo) |
Albert Almanza |
Mexico |
12th Place |
|
2012 (London) |
Kevin Durant |
United States |
Gold Medal |
|
2016 (Rio) |
Kevin Durant |
United States |
Gold Medal |
|
2020 (Tokyo) |
Kevin Durant |
United States |
Gold Medal |
|
2024 (Paris) |
Kevin Durant |
United States |
Gold Medal |