The 1980 Summer Olympics held in Moscow were tainted by the political repercussions of the Soviet Union's invasion of Afghanistan. The USA, Argentina, Canada, China, Mexico and Puerto Rico all qualified for the Olympics, but chose to not participate in the Games in protest of the Soviet invasion. Regardless, U.S. Olympic trials were held and selected athletes were honored as 1980 Olympians.

The 1980 USA men's basketball team, coached by Dave Gavitt, was the youngest team in the history of men's Olympic basketball. However, their youth did not hamper their expertise. The 1980 squad in a series of exhibition games known as the 'Gold Medal Series,' played five games against NBA All-Star teams, and also played the 1976 U.S. Olympic team that had captured Olympic gold. 

Facing assorted NBA -All-Star rosters that included stars like Quinn Buckner, Michael Cooper, George Gervin, Marques Johnson, John Lucas, John Shumate, Reggie Theus, Kermit Washington, Dennis Johnson, Bob Lanier, Clint Richardson, Campy Russell, Jack Sikma, Reggie Theus, Paul Westphal, Nate Archibald, Alex English, Micheal Ray Richardson, Marvin Webster Mike Bantom, Junior Bridgeman, Phil Ford, Artis Gilmore, Magic Johnson,  Steve Mix,  Dan Roundfield, and others, the 1980 U.S. squad compied a 4-1 record.

Opening the tour at The Forum in Inglewood, California, on June 16, Michael Brooks scored 18 points to pace the U.S. to a 97-84 victory. Two nights later at Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Phoeniz, behind Al Wood's 17 points the U.S. eanred a lopsided 97-66 win. Playing on June 20 at the Seattle Kingdome, the NBA All-Stars edged the 1980 U.S. Olympians 78-76 as Paul Westphal tallied 19 points for the victorious NBA team, while Rolando Blackman and Isiah Thomas each scored 12 points for the 1980 USA Team. The U.S. bounced back to post a 77-75 win over the NBAers in New York as Brooks finished with 20, Micheal Ray Richardson had 18 to lead the NBA All-Stars. Playing June 23 in Indianapolis, the U.S. Olympians battled to an 82-76 victory with Brooks leading the effort with 13 points. Closing out the Gold Medal Series with an 81-77 win versus members of the 1976 Olympic squad 81-77, Thomas and Wood each accounted for 13 points, and Walter Davis was credited with 14 points for the 1976 Olympians.

LaSalle College's Michael Brooks led the 1980 team in scoring during the 'Gold Medal Series' averaging 13.2 points a game, Sam Bowie added 11.8 ppg. and Mark Aguirre accounted for 11.3 ppg. The 7'1' Bowie also led the USA Olympians in rebounding with a 6.9 average and in block shots with 14.

In the 1980 Moscow Olympics, the favored Soviet Union squad was upended twice in the semifinal round and was eliminated from the hunt for the gold medal. First the Soviets fell to Italy 87-85, then lost a heartbreaker to Yugoslavia in overtime, 101-91. Yugoslavia went on to defeat Italy 86-77 in the gold medal game and claim its first Olympic title, while the Soviets rebounded to upend Spain 117-94 in the bronze medal game.

1980 U.S. MEN'S OLYMPIC TEAM ROSTER

1980 U.S. MEN'S OLYMPIC TEAM CUMULATIVE STATISTICS

*The USA did not participate in the 1980 Moscow Olympics. However, the team did participate in the 'Gold Medal Series,' a series of games against NBA All-Star teams in various USA cities. The cumulative statistics from the that series can be found above.