FROM among the memorable moments of Team USA's thrilling 95-91 win over Serbia in their 2024 Paris Olympics men's basketball semifinal on Friday, one incident that got X raging was the jawing between LeBron James and Bogdan Bogdanovic.
READ USA storms back from 17 points down to stun upset-seeking Serbia
Actually, the steamy back-and-forth didn't start with the two but between the Serbian hotshot and former NBA star Carmelo Anthony, who was at ringside to watch the two nations fight for a spot in the gold-medal game.
When Bogdanovic hit a big three-pointer with 3:40 left in the second quarter to give Serbia a 15-point lead, the Atlanta Hawks gunner was seen mimicking Melo's 'three to the dome' celebration while staring down Anthony on his way downcourt.
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That, ironically, was the same celebration Anthony made eight years ago when Team USA beat Serbia and a young Bogdanovic, 96-66, in the gold-medal game of the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
It wasn't clear if Bogdanovic really had every intention to dig up that eight-year old beef, but Melo looked like he didn't appreciate the Serbian's gesture, and so did his pal LeBron who can be seen jawing with Bogdan later during a deadball.
It didn't end there
When LeBron hit a tough fallaway from the low post against Bogdanovic, he hit the Serbia superstar with a 'too small' gesture in retaliation,
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The night didn't end well for Bogdanovic and Serbia, which after leading by as much as 17 points couldn't stop a steamrolling US side led by Steph Curry, Joel Embiid, Kevin Durant and James in the final quarter.
As Team USA celebrated the great escape that put it one win away from a successful Olympic title defense, Bogdanovic was inconsolable on the court.
But at least, he and LeBron looked as if they had put the spat behind them after the buzzer, hugging it out at midcourt.
Grudges? Well, that we have to wait to find out.
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