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NY Knicks’ Yabusele on what French national team tell themselves about Stephen Curry’s gold medal winning performance

Originally posted on NBA Analysis Network
By Aaditya Krishnamurthy | Last updated Aug 11, 2025 1:07 PM ET

It’s been a year since Stephen Curry said ‘Nuit Nuit’ to the French national team to win Team USA an Olympic gold medal.

Last year, basketball fans were treated to some incredible games thanks to the 2024 Summer Olympics. While several teams put on a show, perhaps no side drew as many eyeballs as Team USA.

But that isn’t to say that Team USA had it easy. Team USA’s showdown against Serbia ranks among the greatest basketball games ever, according to Steve Kerr.

Beyond that, it was Stephen Curry’s electric 24-point performance against France that had everyone talking.

Team USA vanquished France in their backyard to win the gold medal game. Victor Wembanyama was distraught in the immediate aftermath of the loss. But how do the French players look back on that memory a year later?

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Team USA needed Stephen Curry masterclass to beat France

Speaking to RMC Sport in a recent interview, New York Knicks and French basketball star Guerschon Yabusele looked back on the thrilling gold medal game against Team USA.

Despite the loss, the French players were quite proud of themselves. In fact, they admit that Stephen Curry’s heroics kept them from a gold medal.

“We were left a little hungry after this final. We were doing well; we were able to put pressure on them. We tell ourselves that it took a great Stephen Curry to beat us.

“It’s encouraging. We’re getting closer every year. We gave everything. The story is still beautiful. We’re happy with this silver medal.”

For Yabusele, the gold medal game proved to be life-changing. He had a moment during the game that not only made fans take notice but paved a path back to the NBA for him.

Guerschon Yabusele reflects on viral LeBron James dunk

Speaking further in the interview, Guerschon Yabusele reflected on his viral dunk against LeBron James during the game and how that moment still resonates among fans and his French teammates.

“When I walk the streets of Philly, I hear: ‘He’s the one who dunked on LeBron!’ It’s funny. It was cool at that moment to be able to do that in the final.

“And it gave the team a little boost; it gave us the strength to do all those things. We were united.”

Despite being in the moment, even Yabusele couldn’t believe he dunked on LeBron James. It was perhaps the most shocking moment of the entire tournament.

One year ago, LeBron sacrificed himself to revive Yabusele's NBA careerpic.twitter.com/CPodktGzp4
— NBA Memes (@NBAMemes) August 11, 2025

Yabusele’s dunk was perhaps the best moment for the French national team in that game. And it also proved to be the moment his NBA career was revived.

Months later, Yabusele, who had a difficult first stint with the Celtics, would join the Philadelphia 76ers. While the 76ers struggled last season, Yabusele had a strong year.

Due to financial restraints, the 76ers didn’t re-sign him, allowing Yabusele to join the New York Knicks.

There is no better way to prove the 76ers wrong and complete a miraculous NBA comeback than to help the Knicks win the NBA championship next season.

This article first appeared on NBA Analysis Network and was syndicated with permission.

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