NBA Stars' Patriotism Shines Despite Past Protests: 'Court of Gold' Reveals Olympic Passion

Four years before donning the USA jersey at the 2024 Summer Olympics, some of basketball's biggest names – LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Jayson Tatum, Joel Embiid, and Bam Adebayo – knelt during the national anthem to protest racial injustice. Stephen Curry joined in 2021, shortly after the Capitol riots. This led some to question their commitment to a country they seemed to be protesting. Yet, their dedication to representing the Stars and Stripes on the world's biggest stage tells a different story. James and Davis's Olympic journey is highlighted in the new Netflix documentary, "Court of Gold," which shadows the American, French, Serbian, and Canadian national teams in Paris. The six-part series dropped last week. Director Jake Rogal mentioned that he avoided political discussions with the players but observed their deep pride in representing their nation, regardless of past grievances. "I think you have pride in where you're from, even if you're not happy with how things are," Rogal told Fox News Digital. "I think that we're in a polarizing, tumultuous environment. And I think that no matter what, whether you like it or not, this is where you're from, and you want to put your best foot forward in representing that." While NBA titles might seem like the ultimate prize for these athletes, the intensity and importance they placed on the Olympic games, especially during the semi-finals and finals, were undeniable. Rogal noted that the players themselves don't see a comparison between the two. "I don't know if they compare them, because we asked a question that's similar, and the answer we got back pretty consistently was that they're two different experiences, so you can't compare them," Rogal explained. "The NBA championship is a whole season, and you're building up to that, and it's your job. The Olympics are for your country, and it's a quick hit, and it's like, while it's the same sport, it's two different accomplishments … I don't think they're comparable. I think they're both special in their own right for their own reasons." The Olympics drew significantly more attention than the NBA All-Star break. The gold medal game's climax, featuring Stephen Curry's stellar performance, peaked at 22.7 million viewers, marking the most-watched gold medal game since 1996. In contrast, this year's All-Star Game had an average of just 4.7 million viewers, making it the second-lowest rated this century. Rogal believes NBA players would welcome an international tournament during the All-Star break, similar to the NHL's 4 Nations tournament. "I think any time you include country, it raises the stakes. It makes things more appealing. It adds emotion right away. It adds competitiveness," Rogal stated. "So, I think getting country competition in the mix at any point is smart. Whether that's at an All-Star Game or at an Olympics, I think that you would get a more competitive response if you do add country into it because it's so personal. I think it could be appealing to them."