How did the American men s basketball team achieve redemption in 2008?

Do you still remember the men's basketball finals of the 2008 Beijing Olympics? The US team fought with Spain until the last moment, and it was Kobe's 3+1 that completely secured the victory! Behind this gold medal battle, there is a passionate story of the Dream Team’s self-salvation.

The failure of the Athens Olympics four years ago gave the US men's basketball team a lesson. When the team was formed, the code name was directly "Redeem Team". Wade later admitted frankly: "We came to Beijing with the determination to avenge our shame."

Looking at the entire Olympic journey, these five players can be called the key to winning gold:

1. Kobe Bryant - scored 13 points in the last 3 minutes of the final, using his big heart to prove what a superstar is

2. Dwyane Wade - averaging 16 points per game to become the team's scoring champion, breaking through and tearing all defense lines like lightning

3. LeBron James - an all-round fighter contracted both offense and defense, and repeatedly sent fatal blocks in key battles

4. Jason Kidd - the veteran controls the field and makes zero mistakes, perfectly controls the rhythm of the game

5. Cameron Anthony - The outside artillery averaged 4 three-pointers per game, becoming the key to space offense

What I want to mention is Kobe's classic 3+1. At that time, Spain caught the score difference to 2 points, and Kobe forced a three-pointer against the top of the arc against the defense and caused a foul! This four-pointer completely crushed the opponent's counterattack momentum. Gasol admitted after the game: "At that moment we knew that the champion belonged to them."

Now, looking at this Dream Eighth Team, it is not only accumulating talents, but also an accurate functional combination. There are traditional point guards like Kidd, guards from Howard's basketball gate, and full-time shooters like Anthony. And Kobe is undoubtedly the most reliable terminator at critical moments.

It is worth mentioning that this team has also changed the international basketball landscape. From then on, countries realized that if they want to defeat the US team, it is not enough to rely on team cooperation alone. They must have ace players who can compete with NBA-level stars.

Seventeen years have passed, and this gold medal battle was still regarded as one of the most exciting finals in Olympic basketball history. Perhaps it is precisely because of this story of self-salvation that is always the most touching.

Do you think the American men's basketball team can still play such dominance in the past?