SAN ANTONIO — Team USA punched its ticket to the 2024 Olympics men's basketball final Thursday, overcoming Serbia to reach the gold-medal game for the fifth straight Olympics, as it was predicted the typically mighty American team would.
Their opponent, however, has made the best of its underdog status.
Team France, which features the young Spurs star Victor Wembanyama, upset Canada and Germany over the last two rounds to reach the final—in the process becoming the first non-U.S. country to do so in a year when it's hosting the Games. Led by the formidable scoring duo of Isaïa Cordinier and Guerschon Yabusele – and bolstered by the talents of Wemby – France is hunting for one more upset and its first-ever gold medal in the event, having won silver in 2020, 2000 and 1948.
Yet the matchup poses a quandary for San Antonio, where Wembanyama is already beloved after a historic, Rookie-of-the-Year-winning debut season in the NBA: Does the Alamo City root for the home country or the hometown star?
For one hour Friday afternoon, KENS 5 stood in the heart of San Antonio with a white board that read: "Who will win the gold? USA or France?" Fans passing by drew a tally under the team they'll be cheering for.
At first, the votes were unanimous for Team USA.
"I put the U.S. I think they're just an overall stronger team. It might be a close game at the beginning, (but) I think the U.S. pulls away. Especially after the performance against Serbia, they're not gonna let off the gas at all," one Spurs fan told us.
At the same time, he wouldn't be heartbroken if France took the gold. "I won't be mad if they win. I think [Wemby's] gonna do good. He's got something to prove especially after winning rookie of the year. All those guys are gonna come at him. He's gonna hold it down for San Antonio."
With 27 votes for the U.S. and zero for France, we finally met two supporters for the blue, white and red.
"I don't want LeBron to win the gold!" one man told us, not wanting to identify himself for fear of "haters."
"It's a long bet," said another France supporter. "I think France is hungry and will want it. I think [Wemby] will show his true colors when he's fighting for his own country."
Our final tally after one hour in the hot sun: 28 for Team USA, 2 for Team France.
Judging by social media, some fans are conflicted.
And some, like X user @aremoreorless, aren't.
Still some, like @edw000rd, are cognizant of what Wemby winning a gold medal at 20 will do for his already impressive legacy.
It's a simple question for @Hookem214, who has adopted the attitude of "Whoever wins, we win too."
There are also fans who, instead of fretting over who to root for, are thinking big picture about Wembanyama's motivation and performance on the big stage.
The final tips off at 2:30 p.m. CT from Paris. Germany and Serbia play earlier, at 4 a.m. CT, in the bronze-medal game.