Tracing the History of the USA Men’s National Basketball Team

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When the 1992 Olympic Dream Team used a ridiculous, 46-1 first-half run to turn its first game against Angola into a statement of what was to come in Barcelona, ​​it did more than just confirm Charles Barkley’s forward. Predicting that Angola was “in trouble.”

A brand new era for USA Basketball began. After decades of sending the nation’s top collegians against the best in the world, it was time to show everyone that Dr. How Naismith was meant to be played. Since then, the NBA’s star-studded teams have played in—and often won—the biggest championships.

But the dominance of US basketball didn’t start in ’92, and the tradition of USA Basketball is not just the Dream Team. The organization that oversees hoops in this country has created a legacy of success that has showcased the best players in the game with exciting results. The US first entered the international stage in 1936, when the sport first competed in the Olympics, and has been a world leader in the sport ever since. As the nation’s governing body, USA Basketball has become the sport’s northern star and has played a role in bringing basketball to America and the world. It also gave US fans a chance to experience the best of the game together, as part of the red, white and blue tradition.

In 1974, the Amateur Basketball Federation of the United States of America (ABAUSA) was formed to bring all the different national associations under the same governing body. Fifteen years later, the ABAUSA changed its name to USA Basketball, but its mission remained clear: to provide the best support and leadership for US teams to compete and win in the world’s biggest stages of basketball, while growing the game nationwide. To say it was successful in that endeavor is a huge understatement.

Under the leadership of USA Basketball, elite players and coaches continue to dominate. The Men’s National Team has won nine of the last 11 Olympic gold medals (the US did not participate in the 1980 Moscow Games) and the last four. It has also captured four world championships in over three decades—in 1986, 1994, 2010 and 2014—and one in 1954. There have been many titles in competitions such as the Pan Am Games and other competitions around the world. As the Paris Olympic Games approach, the US is heavily favored to defend its gold medal status, thanks to a team of 12 NBA All-Stars that includes four MVPs and six NBA champions. Another example of the strong relationship between USA Basketball and the country’s greatest players, their desire to represent their country runs deep, and their incredible talent. Former NBA All-Star and 1996 gold medalist Grant Hill, now the Director of the USA Basketball Men’s Team, selected the team and filled it to varying degrees.

“The United States is home to some of the best basketball players in the world, and I appreciate the great interest in being a part of this list,” Hill said. “These decisions were not easy, but it was a pleasure to do this program and reach this result.”

THE NEW GOVERNMENT

More than 40 years after Naismith invented his sport, the International Basketball Federation (known as FIBB) was born in 1932, and plans were made for the sport to be part of the 1936 Berlin Olympics. A field of 22 teams was fielded, but it was really only one team: the United States, which finished the tournament 4-0 (there were no medal rounds) to take Gold.

Six straight Golds followed for the US, which was rarely challenged. The nation’s best collegians and recent graduates are taking over the world. Rival teams often had older players, some of whom were paid—although no country would ever admit that. It didn’t matter. From 1936-68, the US went 55-0 in the Olympics, the kind of dominance many expect from the country that invented the sport.

Among the standouts at that time were Joe Fortenberry, who averaged 14.5 ppg in 1936, forward Clyde Lovellette (13.9 ppg) on ​​the ’52 team, San Francisco big man Bill Russell (14.1 ppg) in 1956, 1960 outstanding Oscar Robertson and Jerry. Lucas, both averaging 17.0 ppg, and Spencer Haywood, 16.1 ppg led the 1968 Gold team.

Haywood was the first college student ever invited to try out for the Olympic team, and the 19-year-old from Trinidad State JC in Colorado proved he belongs. Not only did he score a lot—he had 21 points in the gold medal win over Yugoslavia—he also set an Olympic record for field goal percentage (71.9) that still stands today.

But Haywood, like many great players representing the US around the world, was part of the team. He could have scored more, but he teamed up with other greats to help continue the tradition that has defined USA Basketball: representing the United States.

For decades, the US had been a powerhouse in the basketball world, but trouble was looming. The Soviet Union had invested heavily in its sports programs, with the aim of promoting Communism throughout the world. When Haywood stood on the podium and watched the giant American flag unfold in the stadium in Mexico City, he could not have known the chaos that lay before him.

BIG CHANGES

The next 20-plus years were a time of great change in the nation’s top basketball organization. It all started in 1972, when the United States team was badly beaten, losing to the USSR 51-50 in the gold medal game in Munich. The competition featured enough confusion and controversy to fill an entire Olympiad. The US protest was denied, and the American athletes refused to accept their silver medals. It was the first Olympic loss in US history, and it remains a dark chapter.

Two years later, the ABAUSA was founded as a response to the decision of the international federation (renamed FIBA) to withdraw its recognition of the AAU, which governed the sport in the country. This new organization brought together representatives from all the fledgling basketball federations in the country and began its 50-year race to lead the nation’s basketball fortunes.

One of its first successes came in the 1976 Montreal Olympiad, where the US got some measure of revenge for the ’72 debacle. The Americans went 7-0 and won the gold medal. Although the final victory came against Yugoslavia, who had upset the USSR in the semi-finals, and not the Soviets, it was still a good debut on a major international stage for the new American governing body.

Since the US did not participate in the 1980 Moscow Olympics, and the USSR boycotted the ’84 Games in Los Angeles, these two basketball powerhouses did not meet again until 1988, in South Korea. The matchup did not take place in the final round, rather in the semis, and the US could not overcome a full Soviet team that included future NBA greats Arvydas Sabonis and Sarunas Marciulionis and fell, 82-76. Although the Americans won the Bronze by edging Australia, clear changes were needed, as the US used college players against teams with much older and more professional opponents.

In April 1989, FIBA ​​made the historic decision to allow countries to use professional players on their international teams. Although the American team voted against the change, the 56-13 decision affirmed and created an opportunity for the US to bring its best players in the world. Then ABAUSA president Dave Gavitt declared the move necessary for “this new, global era.” That same October, ABAUSA changed its name to USA Basketball.

FIBA had taken a big step. It was time for the United States to show basketball fans everywhere, from one side of the world to the other, what that means.

YOU’RE STILL DREAMING

Barkley’s pre-Olympics prediction that Angola was “in trouble” could have applied to all of the Dream Team’s 1992 opponents. America’s roster, which included 12 future Basketball Hall of Famers, battled for the Gold Medal and won eight of its games with victories. combined 43.8 pg. Croatia’s 32-point loss in the Gold Medal game was the closest of any opponent. Head coach Chuck Daly, who didn’t call a timeout during the Olympics, put it well after that.

“You will see a team of top players again at the Olympics, but I don’t think you will see another team like this. This was an amazing team.”

Daly was right. There have been other star-studded NBA teams that have delivered gold medals to the US The ’96 version was almost as dominant, winning its eight games by an average of 31.2 ppg. But the first team, which includes some of the best players to walk the planet (Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird) and one of the top five collegians of all time (Christian Laettner), remains at a high level.

Yes, there was that upset in 2004 when the US only managed Bronze. But in every other Olympic tournament since the Dream Team’s triumphant march to the world stage, the United States has been gold. The 2008 “Redeem Team” re-established the US as the world’s best and started a run that American fans hope will continue this year in Paris.

Although the 2021 US team dropped its first game in France, it won 25 games in the Olympics, and returned to the competition for the Gold medal with its opponents in the group stage. Thanks to 29 points from Kevin Durant, who averaged 20.7 in this tournament, the US avenged its previous defeat and brought the fourth gold medal, 87-82, over France.

The hard road showed how USA Basketball helped spread the game around the world. When Jordan, Magic and Bird formed the Dream Team and defeated all comers in ’92, the game of basketball was still growing around the world. Over the next 30 years, it blossomed dramatically, with many different countries boasting the kind of talent that could challenge the US. and send it all over the world.

TOMORROW

The US Olympic team may be the most visible part of USA Basketball’s profile, but the organization promotes and grows the game at all levels. That means sponsoring youth camps and clinics, training centers, regional and national competitions and international teams participating in various competitions.

It’s not just about winning. USA Basketball is committed to player development, safety and fair play. The organization continues to make sure the game is successful at all levels, and while it’s fun to focus on US teams against the world, it’s also important to ensure that all who play the game do so in environments that include everything needed to be successful. and enjoying the game.

As the 2024 Men’s National Team prepares for Paris, they are taking with them all the years of training and development USA Basketball has given them. The world will be watching. And that includes USA Basketball’s young athletes and junior teams, who may one day become a part of history.

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Photos via Getty Images.