LONDON - This was no Dream Team. This was reality.
The gold medal was in doubt for the U.S. men's basketball team.
The Americans led Spain by only one point after three quarters of a game that almost anyone would hope for in an Olympic final.
Especially, it turns out, the U.S. players.
"We knew it wasn't going to be easy. We didn't want it easy," LeBron James said. "A lot of teams have won gold easy. We didn't want it that way. We're a competitive team, and we love when it gets tight. That's when our will and determination kind of shows. It was the same way in '08."
Same result, too.
The Americans defended their title Sunday by fighting off another huge challenge from Spain, pulling away in the final minutes for a 107-100 victory.
And just like 2008, the star-studded Americans had to work for this one.
The real Dream Team never had a game like this 20 years ago in Barcelona. And if that means this group isn't worthy of the comparisons to Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird and Co., the players had their own response.
"Everybody wants to make that comparison, but at the end of the day we're both wearing these," forward Kevin Love said, pulling on his gold medal. "That's pretty good."
James capped one of basketball's most brilliant individual years with a monster dunk and a huge 3-pointer in the final 2:50 that finally ended a Spanish threat few expected after the Americans had been so dominant for so long in London.
Kevin Durant scored 30 points and James had 19 on a day he joined Jordan as the only players to win the NBA title, regular-season MVP, NBA Finals MVP and Olympic gold in the same year.
"It was a good year. It was a great year for me as an individual," James said. "But this right here, it means more than myself, it means more than my name on my back. It means everything to the name on the front."
Coach Mike Krzyzewski, who has said he's retiring as national team coach, emptied his bench in the final minute.
James stood with his arms in the air, then held Durant in a long hug before they came off the court.
When the final horn sounded, Krzyzewski locked James in a tight embrace as Bruce Springsteen's "Born In The USA" rocked the arena.
The Americans hugged at midcourt, guard James Harden holding a doll of the Olympic mascot, and then after being handed flags, this group of NBA players - and one kid just out of college - paraded around the floor with the Stars and Stripes flowing off their backs like capes.
"To do it twice is a special moment," Carmelo Anthony said. "As the U.S. men's team, we go through a lot. For us to persevere the way we did is just a special moment for myself and for the guys who are on this team."
For Kobe Bryant, it was his last Olympic moment.
"This is it for me," said Bryant, who scored 17 points and now has a second gold medal to go with his five NBA championships. "The other guys are good to go."
Pau Gasol scored 24 points and Juan Carlos Navarro had 21 for Spain.
The Spanish somehow lost sight of James, who drove uncontested and threw it down for a 99-91 lead with 2:48 left. After Marc Gasol dunked, James dribbled outside the circle with Marc Gasol giving him just a bit too much room, and James pulled up for the 3 that made it 102-93 with 1:59 to play.
Pau Gasol then was called for an offensive foul on a pick, and the Americans could sense that it was over.
Gasol, who carried the flag for Spain in the opening ceremony, had a big miss inside with Spain down by six with about three minutes to go, screaming out loud in frustration as he went back down the court.
"I am disappointed, but on the other side, I'm very proud of how we competed, how we played," Gasol said. "We fought for 40 minutes. I am proud of having another Olympic medal around my neck."
It was the 14th gold medal for the Americans.
They lost at least five players who might have been on the team when Dwight Howard, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and Derrick Rose pulled out with injuries and Blake Griffin was hurt in training camp.
Along the way, they showed they could be vulnerable during their exhibition schedule, falling into early holes against Brazil and Spain, having to hold on against Argentina.
They were tested only once before Sunday, beating Lithuania 99-94.
Though this was expected to be the final international game for Krzyzewski and Bryant, the U.S. will apparently still be able to bring its best to the next Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro. Though the NBA has said it might prefer a younger-than-23 age limit for the Olympics, FIBA's secretary general said Saturday he doesn't see any changes being proposed in time for 2016.
James isn't sure if he will return after he, Bryant, Anthony, Chris Paul and Deron Williams joined a list of 13 Americans who have won multiple gold medals.
Krzyzewski said even before joining Hank Iba as the only coaches to lead the U.S. to consecutive golds that this would be his last game - though USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo promised to do his best sales job to bring the respected coach back.
He led a powerful performance in Britain, where there is such little history and awareness of basketball that some basic rules were explained during pregame announcements.
Now the British have seen the game at its highest level.
"We came through from the beginning of July and worked hard for one goal and I'm glad, we accomplished it," Durant said.
