The 2024 Olympics may have been boring for many Team USA fans because of how easily they dominated the opposition during pool play. Some may have even thought that the road back to the title would be pretty easy after LeBron James and company dismantled Brazil in the quarterfinals.
However, fans were quickly given a nervous shock after the team almost lost to Serbia in the semi-final. It had to take an otherworldly Steph Curry performance before the team completed an epic 95-91 comeback against the Eagles.
While it’s true that the Americans’ fourth-quarter run was the spark they badly needed to win, there seems to be more about the game than what is seen on the surface. For some eagle-eyed Team USA fans, a certain in-game moment sealed the Americans’ comeback against their European opponents.
Bogdan Bogdanovic’s disrespectful celebration spurred Team USA comeback
The Serbians were leading by as much as 17 points during the second quarter, and it seemed like the Americans would have to settle for a third-place finish. It was at this moment when Atlanta Hawks shooting guard Bogdan Bogdanovic did something that fans thought would trigger King James and the rest of Team USA.
Per Larry Brown Sports’ R.P. Salao:
With 3:40 left in the second quarter, the Atlanta Hawks guard hit a three over Anthony Edwards to give Serbia a 47-32 lead. Bogdanovic then mimicked Carmelo Anthony’s “three to the dome” celebration and began trash talking the former US Olympian, who happened to be sitting courtside.
To pull off such a move with the man who popularized the move sitting sideline and supporting your opponents is nothing short of devious. That moment was probably what prompted Melo to talk to Bron and push him to do better.
What’s worse for Bogdan was that he was having a great game for the Eagles. The 31-year-old sharpshooter finished the night with 20 points, four rebounds, and three assists. If he didn’t taunt Team USA with the Melo celly, they might have been the ones preparing to face France in the gold-medal game.
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