Kobe Bryant provided a vital late spark as the United States reclaimed Olympic basketball supremacy yesterday, defeating world champion Spain 118-107 to bring the Americans their 13th gold medal in the sport.
Dwyane Wade scored 27 points to lead the Americans while Bryant added 20, LeBron James contributed 14 and Carmelo Anthony scored 13 for the US squad of National Basketball Association stars who found redemption for a 2004 flop.
Wade, James and Anthony were all frustrated reserve members of the US team that settled for bronze at the 2004 Olympics, sparking the golden quest of this US ''Redeem Team'' to reclaim global supremacy for basketball's birthplace.
''We were at America's lowest point in '04,'' Anthony said. ''We did a hell of a job putting America back where it belongs, on top of the world.''
A day after his 30th birthday, Bryant smiled and said, ''Oh my God,'' as he watched the Stars and Stripes rise while the US anthem played, having already bitten his medal and found the taste of gold sweeter than his three NBA titles.
''It is more important and more special than any championship that any of us will ever win,'' Bryant said.
It was a game the NBA superstar multi-millionaires had waited for years to play and they were not about to lose.
''We put our time and hearts into this. To come through and finally win the gold medal not just for ourselves but for America, it means a lot,'' James said. ''It means everything to me. It's so rewarding to see your hard work pay off.''
But the Spaniards gave the US stars their toughest Olympic fight, staying within two points with eight minutes to play.
Rudy Fernandez sank a three-pointer with 8:13 remaining to pull the Spanish within 91-89, the closest they had been since the first eight minutes and that any team in the Olympics had been to the Americans so late in a game.
''They were unbelievable,'' James said. ''They countered our game plan by making some incredible plays. Every possession counted. If it wasn't for our determination we wouldn't have pulled it through.''
Bryant entered after a US timeout to regroup and sparked a 12-3 run, scoring five points and making two assists. Pau Gasol, Bryant's NBA teammate, answered with four points to pull Spain within 104-99.
But Bryant replied with a pivotal four-point play sinking a three-pointer, being fouled and adding a free throw.
''Dwyane made a couple of big plays and we all know Kobe likes the ball down the stretch,'' Gasol said. ''We played well. We almost had it. We fought to the end. We had a chance.''
Spain closed within 108-104 but Wade hit a three-pointer and added a lay-in off a pass from Bryant with 71 seconds remaining to seal Spain's fate.
''That probably goes down as one of the greatest games in Olympic history,'' James said. ''The intensity was unbelievable. It was crazy for us.''
In the final seconds, US players began hugging each other with joy. Wade, James and Anthony sought each other out and stood in awe of their achievement.
''The moment is special,'' Wade said. ''All three of us took time out and took the moment in.'' AFP
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