By Lang Greene
Until recently, if someone mentioned Olympic basketball, it would be synonymous with gold medals and invincibility - for the United States. From 1936 to 2000, the USA men’s basketball team had amassed an incredible 109-2 record securing 12 gold medals, one controversial silver medal and one bronze medal in Olympic competition. The word, "dominant," is a resounding understatement when describing the 68-year run of Team USA, who has medaled in all fifteen Olympic competitions it has entered.
There have been numerous epic performances, a little controversy, and the formation of arguably the best collection of talent on one team – the Dream Team. As we head into the 2008 Summer Olympics, let’s take a look back at some of the greatest moments in, mostly, USA Olympics basketball history.
- The Dream Team Is Born
Beginning in 1989, FIBA, the international governing board for basketball, began allowing professionals the opportunity to represent the United States. This led to the formation of the “Dream Team,” the best collection of talent assembled in basketball history. The Dream Team consisted of Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Karl Malone, Patrick Ewing, Chris Mullin, Charles Barkley, Clyde Drexler, Magic Johnson, Scottie Pippen, John Stockton, collegiate representative Christian Laettner and Coach Chuck Daly who didn’t call a timeout during the entire Olympic Games. Team USA rolled to the gold medal with an average margin of victory of 43.8 points.
- 1960 U.S. Olympic Men’s Basketball Team – Original Dream Team?
The 1960 U.S. Olympic Men’s national basketball team could arguably be considered the “original Dream Team.” The squad consisted of Walter Bellamy, Jerry Lucas, Oscar Robertson, and Jerry West. Ten of the twelve members on the gold medal winning team went on to play professionally in the National Basketball Association.
They averaged a whopping 102 points per game and won their games by an impressive 42.4 points. The closest an opposing team got to them was 24 points. An impressive five players contributed double digits scoring averages, with Robertson and Lucas scoring 17 points a game apiece.
- 1956 U.S. Olympic Men's Basketball Team
While remembering great Olympic teams, you must mention the 1956 U.S. squad, which featured future National Basketball Association Hall of Fame inductee Bill Russell. The 1956 team defeated their foes by an average of 53.5 points (53.5 POINTS!), scored almost 100 points per game and didn’t allow a competitor within 30 points. It’s also worthy to note that Russell joined the Boston Celtics after the 1956-57 NBA season had already began, getting permission from the team to participate in the Olympics games.
- Vinsanity’s Leap
One of the most memorable basketball moments in Olympic history came in the 2000 Games when the United States went up against France and Vince Carter amazingly jumped over 7’2" inch Frederic Weis’ head to finish a monster dunk.
- Stephon Marbury Sets A Scoring Record for Team USA
Marbury scored 31 points in a quarterfinal game against Spain during the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece. This scoring outburst broke the previous record of 30 set by Charles Barkley (1992) and Adrian Dantley (1976). Marbury also set the single game record for three-pointers made with six, eclipsing Reggie Miller’s five in 1996.
- Ambassadors Of The Game
The U.S. Olympic men’s basketball team, stopped in Japan, during the weeks leading up to the 2000 Olympic Games held in Sydney Australia. During the stop, Team USA member, Kevin Garnett took time to run a basketball clinic, teaching aspiring young Japanese athletes the “art of dunking.” The clinic led to Garnett coaching 30 or so players from Japan's junior national teams and the current Boston Celtic took time to relay his first experiences in dunking, his first dunk coming at the age of 14. Garnett conducted the lessons despite being hampered by an injured left hand.
- Butch Lee Almost Leads An Upset
Alfred “Butch” Lee was a four-year starter for Marquette University from 1974-1978, leading the Warriors to the 1977 National Championship while being named the NCAA Tournament’s Most Outstanding Player. But Lee’s claim to Olympic history came in the 1976 Montreal games.
Lee reportedly requested from his coach Al McGuire to be considered for the USA team, but the coach sent another player, which led to Lee traveling to Puerto Rico and making the Puerto Rican Men’s National basketball squad. When the United States faced Puerto Rico during the Games, Lee erupted for 35 points on 15-of-18 shooting, but fortunately for Team USA, they avoided a monumental upset by winning 95-94.
- The Legend of Oscar Schmidt
Some consider former Brazilian basketball star Oscar Schmidt one of the greatest players to never play in the NBA, but few can dispute his legacy within Olympic basketball lore. Schmidt appeared in five Olympics, scoring 1,093 career points and averaging a record 28.8 points. His best performance came during in the 1988 Seoul Olympics where he scorched opponents for 42.3 points, finishing with 338 total points in eight games.
