JOB is finally done for Team USA as it reasserted its dominance with a gold medal triumph in the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Expect the chatter to continue however, especially with the “Avengers” being continuously compared to US teams of the past, particularly equally great squads namely the “Dream Team” of Barcelona 1992 and the “Redeem Team” of Beijing 2008.
What shouldn’t be questioned, however, is the tough path that the Americans had to go through, one that has not been traversed by past iterations of the national team before, especially now with the globalization of the sport.
One need not look far than the team composition of the opposition, with a record 38 active NBA players on the rosters of the other 11 nations – all of whom were ready to pour their hearts out just to dislodge Team USA from its pedestal.
Though in the end, the Americans still found a way to pull through, it’s enough proof that the gap between the USA and the world is closing, now more than ever.
But this isn’t the first time that the world tried their best to dethrone the Americans in the Olympics.
Some of the world’s best national teams have formed their best squads over the years in an attempt to take down the cage juggernauts, and let’s take a look at those which came close in doing so.
Yugoslavia
Atlanta 1996
Still reeling from the breakup of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, the squad dominated Eurobasket 1995 to earn its way back to the Olympics.
Led by veteran center Vlade Divac, Dejan Bodiroga, Sasha Djordjevic, and Sasha Danilovic, Yugoslavia posed to be the best threat to the USA team dubbed as Dream Team II led by Shaquille O’Neal and Charles Barkley.
And they looked the part, cruising through pool play and hurdling the Wang Zhizhi-captained China in the quarters before hurdling Lithuania in the semis.
David Robinson, however, had other ideas in the gold medal game, uncorking 28 points and seven rebounds as USA pulled away in the second half to take the 95-69 triumph and condemn the Yugoslavs with the silver.
Lithuania
Barcelona 1992, Atlanta 1996, Sydney 2000, Athens 2004
They’re not called the other Dream Team for nothing.
Representing the basketball-mad Baltic nation, Lithuania knew that it can hold a candle against the famed US team thanks largely to the quartet of Arvydas Sabonis, Šarūnas Marčiulionis, Rimas Kurtinaitis, and Valdemaras Chomičius.
But a tough 92-80 loss to the Unified Team in pool play at Barcelona 1992 set the Lithuanians up for a semifinal clash against the Americans which ended in a 127-76 rout. They did avenge that pool play defeat to take the bronze.
Four years later in Atlanta 1996, Lithuania got another crack at USA, but once again fell in the group stages, 104-82. Sabonis and Co. wanted another crack at the Americans, but got their hopes dashed after losing to Yugoslavia in the semis and settling for the bronze again.
Sydney 2000 saw a changing of the guards for Lithuania, this time with young guns Šarūnas Jasikevičius and Darius Songaila leading the way. And it finally got close but still fell short, 85-76, with USA relying on the likes of Kevin Garnett, Vince Carter, and Gary Payton during their pool play clash.
The two teams met once more in the semifinals and Lithuania almost came away with the upset of the century. Jasikevičius, however, missed the potential game-winning three allowing USA to escape with an 85-83 decision. For the third straight Olympics, Lithuania had to settle for bronze.
But finally, the Baltic Giants were able to get the job done in Athens 2004.
Jasikevičius fired 28 as Lithuania beat USA, 94-90, in pool play. Unfortunately, Lithuania lost to Italy in the semifinals, 100-91, and the Americans were able to exact revenge in the bronze medal game, 104-96, after Shawn Marion’s 22.
Puerto Rico
Athens 2004
There’s a reason why up to this day, Puerto Rico fans still revere Carlos Arroyo as one of its greatest players.
When you’re the main reason for the first ever loss of Team USA since the NBA players came back to the national team, you have to get that legendary status. And Arroyo did in Athens 2004 when his 24 points and seven assists allowed the 12 Magnificos to score the 92-73 shocker over a USA team which had Tim Duncan and Allen Iverson.
Also part of that squad included the giant Peter John Ramos, who would later play in the PBA with Kia, as well as Larry Ayuso, Daniel Santiago, and Rick Apodaca.
Though Puerto Rico bowed out in the quarters, the Julio Toro-coached side exited the tournament knowing that it had the USA’s number.
Argentina
Athens 2004, Beijing 2008, London 2012
Being called the Golden Generation should speak for itself, right?
Spearheaded by Manu Ginobili, Luis Scola, Andres Nocioni, and Carlos Delfino, Argentina enjoyed glory on the international stage, none bigger than at Athens 2004.
But it didn’t start off like it would, especially after falling to Pau Gasol’s Spain and Gianmarco Pozzecco’s Italy in the group stages. Yet they picked it up once the playoffs rolled on, drubbing Greece in the quarters.
They weren’t done though as the squad, which also had Fabricio Oberto and Walter Hermann, stunned USA, 89-81, in the semifinals and rendering Stephon Marbury’s 18 points moot. El Alma Argentina closed it out with an 84-69 revenge win over Italy to claim the gold medal.
They remained formidable at Beijing 2008, this time with Pablo Prigioni joining the fray. It wasn’t until the semifinals where the Argentines met USA, but this time, Carmelo Anthony’s 21 points led the Americans to a 101-81 blowout despite Scola’s 28 points and 11 rebounds.
They did win the bronze after turning back Lithuania in the third place game.
Fast approaching the twilight of their careers, Argentina failed to hurdle USA at London 2012, losing in pool play, 126-97, and in the semifinals, 109-83.
Not even the addition of Facundo Campazzo could change their fate as they wound up fourth after losing to Russia, buoyed by Andrei Kirilenko, Alexey Shved, and Timofey Mozgov, 81-77 in the bronze medal game.
As great as Argentina was, it is hard to believe that they had three different head coaches in those trips, from Ruben Magnano in 2004 and Sergio Hernandez in 2008 to Julio Lamas in 2012.
Spain
Athens 2004, Beijing 2008, London 2012, Rio 2016
Pau Gasol was already a star in Athens 2004, anchoring the La Roja to an undefeated run in pool play as he played in perfect harmony with Jose Calderon, Rudy Fernandez, Juan Carlos Navarro, Felipe Reyes, and Jorge Garbajosa.
His prowess was undeniable even in defeat as he exploded for 29 points in Spain’s slim 102-94 quarterfinal defeat to the US to finish in seventh place.
But there was no question that Gasol and Co. were more than ready for primetime in Beijing 2008. With his brother Marc Gasol and 17-year-old sensation Ricky Rubio joining the fray, many expected Spain to give USA a run for its money.
Their first meeting, however, was a dozer as LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Carmelo Anthony helped the Americans pull away in the second half to take the 119-82 victory.
The story would change the next time they faced each other, this time in the gold medal game as it took superb performances from Kobe Bryant, Wade, and James for the USA to slip past Spain, 118-107, in the championship.
Under Sergio Scariolo, Spain continued to be a force with the addition of Serge Ibaka, Sergio Rodriguez, and Sergio Llull for London 2012, meeting anew in the gold medal game.
And it’s much closer this time, but Kevin Durant’s 30 points and nine rebounds outshone Pau Gasol’s 24 as the Americans claimed the 107-100 victory and dealt the Spaniards another loss for their second straight silver medal in the Olympics.
Father Time was fast approaching Gasol at Rio 2016, but he continued to captain Spain, now adding the likes of Nikola Mirotic, Willy Hernangomez, and Alex Abrines as they remained among the best teams in the tourney.
And they almost did, pushing USA to the limit in the semifinals before succumbing to an 82-76 loss. Gasol still registered 23 points and eight boards in that contest, but Klay Thompson, Kevin Durant, and Kyrie Irving combined for more than half of the Americans’ output.
Spain did make it to the podium after outlasting Australia in the bronze medal game.
Australia
London 2012, Rio 2016, Tokyo 2020
The Boomers were on the verge of something great at London 2012. With Patty Mills leading the charge, Australia showed a lot of promise and were respectable in their quarterfinal clash against USA, ending in a 119-86 decision.
But one can argue that Rio 2016 is when people really took notice. Andrew Bogut’s return revitalized the crew which also had Joe Ingles, Matthew Dellavedova, and Aron Baynes and it showed in the Aussies’ first duel against USA, with the Americans leaning on Carmelo Anthony’s 31 to snare the 98-88 win in pool play.
Australia wanted that round two, but Serbia had other plans in the semifinals, relegating the Boomers to the bronze medal game where it fell to Spain.
The next time the two nations met was in the semifinals of Tokyo 2020, and although Baynes missed the game due to a spinal cord injury midway through the tournament, the Boomers still had the core plus Matisse Thybulle, Dante Exum, and Jock Landale.
USA, though, still pulled the 97-78 win behind Kevin Durant’s 23 points.
Serbia
Rio 2016, Paris 2024
Many expected Serbia to contend for a podium finish at Rio 2016, but The Eagles, anchored by Nikola Jokic, Milos Teodosic, and Bogdan Bogdanovic and coached by Sasha Djordjevic, stumbled into three straight defeats right off the gates. One of those, though, was a close one as USA survived, 94-91, after Bogdanovic missed a last gasp three.
But Serbia got its act together in the knockout phase, marching to the championship before Kevin Durant’s 30 steered the Americans to the 96-66 blowout and dealt the Serbians with the bridesmaid finish.
Missing out on Tokyo 2020, Serbia wanted to come back with a vengeance at Paris 2024.
Aleksa Avramovic, Vasilije Micic, and Filip Petrusev are now in with Jokic and Bogdanovic, but Durant was once again Serbia’s bane as his near-perfect shooting towed USA to a 110-84 win.
When they met in the semifinals, it was much closer, but this time, it was Steph Curry who came to save the day for the Americans, lighting up for 36 points to slip past Serbia, 95-91. Serbia did finish at the podium after beating world champions Germany in the bronze medal game.
France
Rio 2016, Tokyo 2020, Paris 2024
Les Bleus have always been considered as among the top teams in Europe, but Rio 2016 had a little more special meaning for coach Vincent Collet as it was the swansong for legend Tony Parker.
Teaming up with Nicolas Batum, Boris Diaw, Rudy Gobert and Nando de Colo, France did make a strong impression and pushed USA to the limit before absorbing the 100-97 defeat in pool play after Klay Thompson’s 30-point eruption. Unfortunately, Spain showed France the door as early as the quarterfinals.
Evan Fournier stepped up five years later, uncorking 28 points as France upset USA right from the get-go with an 83-76 stunner to set the tone for the whole tournament. They turned out to be the two best nations, meeting in the championship but this time, the Americans getting the better, 87-82, behind Durant’s 29.
It was Victor Wembanyama’s turn to join Les Bleus for Paris 2024 as he, together with Isaia Cordinier, Frank Ntilikina, and Guerschon Yabusele, wanted to bring France glory in front of its home fans. And they did, setting up the rematch in the gold medal game.
However, Curry once again made sure that USA repeated over France, catching fire late to deliver the 98-87 victory and send Les Bleus to back-to-back silver medal finishes.
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