2008 Beijing Games Basketball

U.S. point guards Chris Paul and Deron Williams begin to celebrate their 118-107 victory over Spain in the men’s basketball final on Sunday in Beijing.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Forward Carmello Anthony and guard Kobe Bryant enjoy their victory over Spain in the gold-medal game of men’s basketball on Sunday in Beijing.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

As the beaten Spaniards huddle on court, the victorious U.S. men’s basketball team gathers at center court to celebrate the gold medal they’ve just won with a 118-107 victory on Sunday in Beijing.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

American guard Kobe Bryant makes his way through an adoring crowd, most who want autographs, after the U.S. beat Spain to claim the gold medal in men’s basketball Sunday in Beijing.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

U.S. guard Jason Kidd and Spain center Pau Gasol collide during a pick-and-roll play on Sunday in the men’s basketball final in Beijing.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

U.S. guard Kobe Bryant tries to steal the ball from Spain’s Alex Mumbru during the second half of the men’s basketball gold-medal game on Sunday in Beijing.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

From left to right, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Carmello Anthony join together after defeating Spain and winning the gold medal.   (Wally Skalij / LAT)

U.S. Coach Mike Krzyzewski blows a kiss to the crowd after his team defeated Spain.  (Wally Skalij / LAT)

Jason Kidd tries to steal the ball from Spain’s Pau Gasol.   (Wally Skalij / LAT)

LeBron James smacks powder into the air before the start of the gold medal game against Spain.   (Wally Skalij / LAT)

Spain’s Pau Gasol stands next to the U.S. team during the medal ceremony.   (Wally Skalij / LAT)

Team USA gathers at center court moments after defeating Argentina, 101-81, in the Olympic men’s basketball semifinal in Beijing. The team faces Spain in the gold medal game Sunday.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Argentina’s Luis Alberto Scola is fouled by Dwight Howard of the U.S. in the men’s basketball semifinal in Beijing.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Dwyane Wade lets out a yell after he is fouled while making a shot in the men’s Olympic basketball semifinal against Argentina.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Kobe Bryant puts a rebound in the basket from behind his head in the semifinal game against Argentina.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Kobe Bryant ties up Fabricio Oberto in the first half of the men’s Olympic basketball semifinal match between the U.S. and Argentina.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

LeBron James lets out a hearty yell after scoring a basket against Australia at the Beijing Olympics. The U.S. defeated Australia, 116-85, to advance to the semifinal round.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Kobe Bryant makes an emphatic slam dunk on his way to scoring 25 points in an Olympic men’s basketball quarterfinal match against Australia.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Chris Bosh of the U.S. sports a red, white and blue mouthguard during an Olympic men’s basketball quarterfinal match against Australia in Beijing.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Kobe Bryant navigates his way to the basket among Australian defenders during an Olympic men’s basketball game in Beijing. The U.S. advanced to the semifinals with a 116-85 win.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Chris Bosh, left, of the U.S. falls to the ground while defending Patrick Mills of Australia. Bosh scored 10 points and had six rebounds as the Americans eliminated the Aussies with a 116-85 win.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

China’s Yao Ming faced a tough double-team defense during an Olympic men’s basketball quarterfinal game against Lithuania. China was eliminated from the tournament after losing to Lithuania, 94-68.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

China’s Yao Ming is surrounded by Lithuanian defenders during an Olympic men’s basketball quarterfinal game. China was eliminated from the tournament after losing to Lithuania, 94-68.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Can Kobe Bryant feel the pressure from Spain’s Pau Gasol? Back in the States, the two are teammates for the NBA Lakers.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

LeBron James knocks the ball away from Spain’s Pau Gasol.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Dwight Howard puts up a shot over Spain’s Pau Gasol in the U.S.-Spain preliminary game.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Spain’s Marc Gasol struggles to get a shot off LeBron James in the first half of the Spain-U.S. showdown.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Guard Dwayne Wade slams home two points past Spain defender Berni Rodriguez.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

LeBron James has the ball stripped from him by Spain’s Alex Mumbru in the first half of a men’s Olympic basketball Pool B preliminary game.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

American guard Dwyane Wade elevates for a two-handed dunk against Spain on Saturday during a preliminary round game.   (Kristian Dowling / Getty Images)

American forward Carmelo Anthony lets out a yell after sinking a shot against Spain during a preliminary round game against Spain on Saturday.  (Streeter Lecka / Getty Images)

American center Dwight Howard is tied up by Spain center Pau Gasol during their preliminary round game Saturday in Beijing.   (Streeter Lecka / Getty Images)

U.S. center Dwight Howard drives to the basket on Pau Gasol of Spain during their preliminary round basketball game Saturday in Beijing.   (Streeter Lecka / Getty Images)

American guard Kobe Bryant goes for a reverse layup against the defense of Spain’s Felipe Reyes during their preliminary round basketball game Saturday in Beijing.   (Streeter Lecka / Getty Images)

U.S. forward LeBron James reacts after a slam dunk Thursday against Greece in a preliminary round game. James had 13 points and contributed six rebounds and six assists.   (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

American guard Kobe Bryant lets out a yell after throwing down a dunk Thursday against Greece. Bryant finished with 18 points, four rebounds and two assists.   (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

U.S. guards Kobe Bryant and Dwyane Wade leave the court in a rather good mood after defeating Greece, 92-69, on Thursday in a preliminary round game.   (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

U.S. guard Chris Paul moves in for the steal attempt against Greece’s Vasileios Spanoulis on Thursday.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

American forward Chris Bosh makes one of his two blocks in the game on this play against Greece’s Nikolaos Zisis. The U.S. forced 25 turnovers, had 18 steals and blocked seven shots in the victory.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

U.S. forward Chris Bosh, who scored 18 points and had five rebounds, comes up with one of his two steals Thursday against Greece’s Dimitrios Diamantidis.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

American guard Dwyane Wade runs into some traffic Thursday in the form of Greece’s Antonios Fotsis and Sofoklis Schortsanitis, left. Wade finished with 17 points and five assists.   (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

U.S. center Dwight Howard played only 11 1/2 minutes and took just one shot -- this dunk over Greece’s Ioannis Bourousis on Thursday. Howard finished with six rebounds.   (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

From left, Angola’s Felizardo Ambrosio, American Carlos Boozer and Angola’s Joaquim Gomes compete for the ball.  (Eric Gay / Associated Press)

Team USA forward Kobe Bryant goes for a dunk as Angola players Armando Costa (5), Vladimir Jeronimo (9) and Carlos Morais (6) look on during their preliminary basketball game in Beijing. The U.S. won, 97-76.  (Eric Gay / Associated Press)

U.S. guard Kobe Bryant steals the ball from China’s Sun Yue, who happens to be a possible future teammate after recently signing a contract with the Lakers.   (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

A lone U.S. basketball fan does his best to support the American team as he is surrounded by fans from China.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

American guard Deron Williams takes the ball to the basket, only to have his shot blocked by China’s Yao Ming, who was called for a foul on the play.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

American guard Dwyane Wade rises for a shot and draws a foul from China’s Wang Zhi-Zhi on Sunday.   (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Kobe Bryant and his U.S. teammates share a laugh on the bench as they rout China, 101-70, on Sunday night.   (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

U.S. guard Kobe Bryant throws down two of his 13 points Sunday against China.   (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

U.S. forward LeBron James celebrates his basket after drawing a foul from China center Yao Ming on Sunday.   (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

China’s Yao Ming blocks the shot of U.S. center Dwight Howard, but Yao was called for a foul on the play Sunday.   (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

American guard Michael Redd appears to have the inside track on getting a loose ball in a battle with China’s Yi Jianlian, center, and Sun Yue on Sunday night.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

U.S. center Dwight Howard is fouled by China’s Zhu Fangyu during the fourth quarter Sunday.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

China’s Yao Ming and America’s LeBron James greet each other before the start of Sunday night’s game -- the Olympic debut for each team.  (Jed Jacobsohn / Getty Images)

Dancers perform during a break in the action between the U.S. and China on Sunday night in Beijing.  (John G. Mabanglo / Associated Press)