AFTER THE GOLD RUSH

U.S. team takes a break before considering another Olympic title defence

- TIM REYNOLDS

The first practice for the U.S. men's Olympic basketball team after arriving in Paris was one of those workouts that those who were there, watching behind closed doors, will talk about for a long time.

Players were split up evenly. Go play, they were told. And what happened next set the tone for the rest of the team's time at the Paris Games.

"We warmed up and then it became competitive," U.S. assistant coach Erik Spoelstra said. "And that's when you realized, one, that this team really cares and that it felt the responsibility to play and compete at the highest level. And then, secondly, the level of talent on that floor ... we knew it could exceed all expectations."

A couple weeks later, they won gold for the fifth consecutive Games, holding off France 98-87. Stephen Curry scored 24 points, all on 3-pointers, while Kevin Durant won his fourth Olympic gold and LeBron James won his third gold and fourth medal overall.

Before long, it will be time to start thinking about how to do it again in 2028 when the Olympics return to Los Angeles. Grant Hill will be back as managing director for the men's national team, and he is already excited about what is looming.

"I've done a lot of things in my life," Hill said. "And this is a thing that certainly consumes you, but it is incredibly rewarding."

Especially when the team wins.