After a 2-point escape from Lithuania in 2000, Team USA could no longer consider itself invulnerable, even with NBA players.
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When USA Basketball opened its program to NBA players in 1992, the world competition was initially set on its heels by the overwhelming Americans.
It didn’t take long, however, for the competition to catch up.
Ever since a trio of losses limited the U.S. to a bronze-medal finish in 2004, victories have not been a foregone conclusion on the Olympic stage. That’s not including the World Championships (now known as the FIBA World Cup), which the U.S. has won just twice out of six tries since 1998.
Here’s a look at the red-white-and-blue’s closest, albeit victorious, Olympic calls since the Dream Team ushered in a new era of international basketball.
1992 — Barcelona, Spain
The Dream Team ushered in a new ceiling of talent in 1992.
Opponent: Croatia
Stage: Gold medal game
Final score: 117-85
Margin of victory: 32
The Dream Team — headlined by all-time icons Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird — emphatically ended the days of college players being overpowered and out-executed by older and more experienced international competition.
Even Croatia stood little chance despite boasting NBA talents Drazen Petrovic, Toni Kukoc and Dino Radja. Jordan led Team USA with 22 points, with six other Americans joining him in double-figure scoring.
1996 — Atlanta, U.S.A.
A mainstay on the Olympic podium during the 1990s, Lithuania has proven to be a worthy test of Team USA throughout the years.
Opponent: Lithuania
Stage: Group play
Final score: 104-82
Margin of victory: 22
The ’96 iteration of Team USA boasted an absurd amount of size, with a young Shaquille O’Neal, Hakeem Olajuwon and David Robinson manning the middle. Karl Malone, Charles Barkley, Grant Hill and Scottie Pippen were similarly opposing at the forward spots.
That imposing frontline negated the sturdy play of Lithuania, one of the most consistent international teams of the modern era. Even so, USA’s talent, physicality and 3-point shooting (Reggie Miller, Mitch Richmond and Gary Payton combined to shoot 7-for-12 from deep in this game) kept the European nation well out of reach.
2000 — Sydney, Australia
Lithuanian legend Sarunas Jasikevicius nearly led his country to a massive semifinal upset of Team USA in Sydney.
Opponent: Lithuania
Stage: Semifinals
Final score: 85-83
Margin of victory: 2
Before the coming-to-earth that was 2004, Team USA received its first true scare in Sydney. It was there that the formidable Lithuanians came within a foot or so of sending the Americans home in stunning fashion.
Sarunas Jasikevicius, a basketball legend in his home country, heaved what would have been the game-winning shot from half-court as the buzzer sounded. It fell short and left, allowing the U.S. to reach the gold medal game by the skin of its teeth.
Lithuania took full advantage of the USA’s turnovers (11) and poor free-throw shooting (21-for-30). The Americans were carried by a frontcourt of Vince Carter, Alonzo Mourning and Kevin Garnett, who combined for 46 of the team’s 85 points.
2004 — Athens, Greece
Narrow wins were as numerous as losses in 2004 for Team USA, including a six-point squeaker over host Greece.
Opponent: Greece
Stage: Group play
Final score: 77-71
Margin of victory: 6
Fresh off a then-stunning, 19-point loss to Puerto Rico, the U.S. badly needed to win its next group game against the host Greeks. They nearly didn’t despite 14 points from Tim Duncan and 10 points off the bench from a then-19-year-old LeBron James.
Antonis Fotsis, a bruising forward who starred overseas on either side of a brief NBA stint, nearly led his home country to the upset with 22 points on 8-for-15 shooting. Greece couldn’t overcome a 17-attempt disadvantage in free throws, however, and the U.S. survived … only to lose to Lithuania in group play and then to eventual gold medalist Argentina in the semifinals.
2008 — Beijing, China
Facing a Spain squad in its prime, a reborn Team USA proved its mettle behind Kobe Bryant’s clutch performance in the gold medal game.
Opponent: Spain
Stage: Gold medal game
Final score: 118-107
Margin of victory: 11
A reconstructed and reinvigorated USA Basketball program — fresh off bronze medal finishes in the 2004 Olympics and 2006 World Championships — entered Beijing billed as the “Redeem Team.” They looked and played the part leading up to the gold medal game, winning every contest by 20 points or more while enforcing overwhelming athleticism on the opposition.
Spain, the gold medalist in the 2006 World Championships, refused to be subdued so easily with the gold medal at stake. Six Spaniards scored in double figures, led by Pau Gasol (21) and Rudy Fernandez (22). Gasol pulled Spain within five with 3:32 remaining.
Then Kobe Bryant, a relative elder statesmen on a younger USA team, stepped up, hit a 3-pointer and held a finger to his lips toward the pro-Spain contingent of the crowd. The U.S. held on to recapture gold and start a new era of Olympic victories.
2012 — London, England
LeBron James became more assertive on the 2012 edition of Team USA, which went on to win another gold medal.
Opponent: Lithuania
Stage: Group play
Final score: 99-94
Margin of victory: 5
Featuring the majority of its iconic 2008 core, Team USA went into the London Olympics expecting heavy competition from its usual rivals, Spain and Argentina.
Lithuania, however, wound up reminding Team USA of its own pedigree during group play. NBA forward Linas Kleiza scored 25 points, including a 3-pointer that put Lithuania up 82-80. James, now well in his prime and an NBA champion, took over on both ends, finishing with 20 points and three steals. Carmelo Anthony added 20 points in the victory, their closest other than another gold-medal nail-biter with Spain (107-100).
2016 — Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Kyrie Irving stepped into the lead guard position for Team USA in 2016.
Opponent: Serbia
Stage: Group play
Final score: 94-91
Margin of victory: 3
We’re going with this one over the three-point victory against France that occurred one game later. Serbia had a more realistic chance of stealing this game down the stretch, especially after a Kyrie Irving miss left the Serbs with the ball and down just three with roughly a minute remaining.
Neither team scored over the final minute, and the USA hung on after leading 23-5 early. Serbia’s comeback bid was fueled by Nikola Jokic (25 points) and Milos Teodosic (18 points, 6 assists). Irving led the U.S. with 15 points, with Paul George adding 12 points, nine rebounds and four assists.
2021 — Tokyo, Japan
During a unique basketball calendar year caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Kevin Durant led Team USA to another gold medal.
Opponent: France
Stage: Gold medal game
Final score: 87-82
Margin of victory: 5
With France already having notched an 83-76 group play win over the Americans, the gold medal game offered an electrifying rematch.
Rudy Gobert, coming off his third Kia Defensive Player of the Year Award, offered an imposing presence in the middle. Evan Fournier and Nicolas Batum manned the wings, while Euro League star Nando de Colo (12 points, 5 rebounds, 7 assists) directed the French attack.
Kevin Durant, however, further cemented his place as one of the greatest international players of all time, finishing with a game-high 29 points on 50% shooting. Jayson Tatum added 19 points and seven rebounds off the bench. France came within three on a Frank Ntilikina 3-pointer with 5:44 remaining, but the U.S. kept them at bay after that to win its fourth consecutive Olympic gold medal.
2024 — Paris, France
Stephen Curry and LeBron James punctuated their iconic status in basketball with their dramatic comeback effort against Serbia.
Opponent: Serbia
Stage: Semifinals
Final score: 95-91
Margin of victory: 4
Perhaps one of the most thrilling victories in USA Basketball history saw the Americans rally from 17 points down and edge Nikola Jokic and the Serbians for a place in the 2024 gold medal game. They did it behind the three defining stars from the past generation: LeBron James, Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant.
James finished with a triple-double, alternating effortlessly between setting up his teammates and breaking the Serbian defense with drives that defied his 39 years of age. Curry exhibited his legendary shooting touch, amassing 36 points and hitting 9-for-14 from 3-point range. Durant helped close out Serbia with clutch shots and defense.
The victory came despite fantastic efforts from Jokic (17 points, 11 assists) and Bogdan Bogdanovic (20 points), who still have a chance to see their country take home an Olympic medal.
