Photograph by Vincent Laforet for NEWSWEEK
For those of you that are just waking up in the U.S., The "Redeem Team" won gold today against Spain while you were sleeping. It was the NBA's—I mean Team U.S.A.'s—first gold medal since the 2000 in Sydney. I must admit I wasn't expecting much action or reaction at the conclusion of this game, but boy was I wrong. It was a pretty good game, and I've rarely seen such excitement out of NBA players even at the end of an NBA Final. Spain gave them a good run, and early on they were ahead, but at no point did I see Team U.S.A. break that much of a sweat—they just played solid basketball and had great performances from Dwayne Wade, Kobe Bryant and LeBron James. It was a real treat to see those three and their teammates so genuinely excited at the conclusion of the game and when they received their medals. I'm at the closing ceremonies and getting ready for that—so I'll just drop a few quick pictures in for now.
Photograph by Vincent Laforet for NEWSWEEK
Photograph by Vincent Laforet for NEWSWEEK
Photograph by Vincent Laforet for NEWSWEEK
Photograph by Vincent Laforet for NEWSWEEK
Photograph by Vincent Laforet for NEWSWEEK
Photograph by Vincent Laforet for NEWSWEEK
Photograph by Vincent Laforet for NEWSWEEK
Photograph by Vincent Laforet for NEWSWEEK
Photograph by Vincent Laforet for NEWSWEEK
Photograph by Vincent Laforet for NEWSWEEK
Photograph by Vincent Laforet for NEWSWEEK
Photograph by Vincent Laforet for NEWSWEEK
Photograph by Vincent Laforet for NEWSWEEK
Photograph by Vincent Laforet for NEWSWEEK
