For Jason and Team USA, the ultimate mission has been accomplished.
The American team (8-0) finished out a perfect Olympic Games with a thrilling 118-107 victory over Spain (6-2) Sunday afternoon in Beijing — good for the gold medal.
Spain gave the United States its toughest challenge of the Olympics, but the Redeem Team, as it has been called, dug deep to win and climb back atop the basketball world.
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| Point guards extraordinaire: Jason, Chris Paul and Deron Williams — teammates and Olympic champions (Getty Images). |
Jason started at point (two points, one rebound), and recorded 11 minutes in the victory, but he was active throughout the game, talking about strategy with coaches and teammates, and helping to encourage his teammates to the hard-fought win — much as he has done through the Games
Afterward, he spoke about how competitive the gold medal contest was, and yet, how the U.S. remained confident — even with a scant two-point lead with eight minutes remaining.
"We weren’t worried, not with Kobe out there. He always makes the timely shot and he’s done throughout his career. He made a big four point play for us. Spain is a very good team. The game we played earlier, well pool play doesn’t count. They are a lot better than that game and they showed it tonight."
CAUGHT IN A MOMENT
The moment of the victory was one to behold, as described by ESPN.com’s Chris Sheridan:
"With the final seconds ticking off, Jason Kidd and Coach K jumped into each other’s arms, embracing and spinning in a circle."
J-Kidd described his thoughts as the clock ticked toward gold:
"Where we came from as a group. Me joining them last summer, the excitement of this game and the closeness that this team has. With all the great players and the egos we became one ego, a team ego and that growth was a beautiful thing to see."
Jason, the only USA player that had been to the top of the podium before (Sydney 2000) instructed his teammates even as the National Anthem began, as described by Sally Jenkins of the Washington Post:
During the medal ceremony, they stood erect and solemn. "Hands on hearts, guys, hands on hearts," Jason Kidd said.
TEAM VICTORY
For Team USA, the concept at the 2008 Olympics has been team above all else, and that was paramount in the accomplishment of this goal. As Jason explained:
"The biggest thing when I have played in the Olympics in 2000 is that we were a team. And we had some guys step up. McDyess stepped up for us. Our whole bench this year played big, Chris Bosh, Chris Paul, Dwyane Wade they were huge. Those guys didn’t start, but they played huge for us in a lot of different games. That’s the biggest thing, that I could relate to these guys and that is when you are out there, play hard as a team. Some nights you’ll play a lot of minutes and some nights you might not make shots but you can cheer your teammates on there is no better feeling."
ELITE COMPANY
J-Kidd becomes the 13th U.S. player with multiple golds, joining an elite list of the best basketball players the United States has ever seen.
After the game, Jason was asked which gold gives him more satisfaction:
"Well, because this is the moment, 2008; 2000 was unbelievable, but this is the moment right now and this is something I will cherish for a long time because the next time I watch the Olympics or the Worlds, I can say I played with those guys and won a Gold Medal."
GUARANTEED DELIVERY
In June, J-Kidd’s Team USA teammate, Lebron James, made a strong proclamation in an interview with Time Magazine, guaranteeing a gold for the United States in Beijing.
After the gold medal victory, Jason spoke to Time’s Sean Gregory about the guarantee:
"The guarantee put us all on alert,” says U.S. starting point guard Jason Kidd. "It helped. We had no problems with him saying that, we all believed it. When a teammate goes all out, we all go out. If your best player is going to say that, you’re going to support him."
UNBEATABLE
The United States victory maintained Jason’s flawless record international play. J-Kidd is now 56-0.
While talking to reporters, Jason cleared up any doubt whether he’d play for Team USA going toward London in 2012.
"This is it. I want to leave that record right where it’s at."
RELATED STORIES
U.S. hoops back on top, beats Spain for gold medal (AP/Washington Post, August 24, 2008)
http://stats.washingtonpost.com/olympics/story.asp?i=20080824070125306535408
Transformation complete for Redeem Team (Washington Post, August 24, 2008)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/24/AR2008082400879.html
Delivering on Lebron’s Guarantee (Time Magazine, August 24, 2008)
http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1835572,00.html
Additional Quotes USA 118, Spain 107 (USA Basketball, August 24, 2008)
http://www.usabasketball.com/news.php?news_page=08_moly_08_quotes
Gold medal game is dream scene for redeem team (ESPN.com, August 24, 2008)
http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/summer08/basketball/columns/story?columnist=sheridan_chris&page=RedeemTeam-080824
Team USA 118, Spain 107 Boxscore (ESPN.com, August 24, 2008)
http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/summer08/basketball/men/boxscore?gameId=834