Dream Team - Dream Team

The United States men's national basketball team is the representative for the United States of America in international men's basketball. Team USA is historically the most prestigious and successful team in international competition, winning medals in all sixteen Olympic tournaments it has entered, coming away with thirteen golds. Despite this dominance, the United States currently trails Argentina in the FIBA world rankings.

Traditionally composed of amateur players, a 1989 rule change by FIBA allowed USA Basketball to field teams with professional players. The "Dream Team" won the gold medal at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain. [1][2][3]

With the introduction of professionals, Team USA was able to spark a second run of dominance after capturing only a bronze medal in 1988. A team of professional players competed in the 1994 Basketball World Championships, finishing first. In 1996, 2000, and 2008, Team USA again captured gold medals.

However, Team USA's renewed dominance has lessened in recent years. Facing increased competition from international teams, helped in no small way by the expansion of basketball sparked by the 1992 Dream Team, the USA failed to win a medal at the 2002 World Championship, finishing sixth. The 2004 Summer Olympic team lost three games on its way to a bronze medal, a record that represented more losses in a single year than the country's Olympic teams had suffered in all previous Olympiads combined.

Determined to put an end to these recent failures, USA Basketball has changed its philosophy and has looked to field complete teams instead of piecing together rosters of NBA All-Stars at the last minute. Team USA won their first seven games at the 2006 World Championships in Japan, losing against Greece in the semi-finals. Although only coming away with a bronze, Team USA finally recaptured international gold two years later at the 2008 Summer Olympics.