The United States' men, coached by Georgetown's John Thompson, once again entered the 1988 Olympics as the co-favorites to win the gold. However, a semifinal loss to the Soviet Union ended the USA's dreams of gold, but the U.S. rebounded to win the bronze and finished with a respectable 7-1 record.

While the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia would each taste defeat in preliminary action, the U.S. team breezed through its pool competition winning all five of its games. Dropping Spain 97-53 in the opener, 11 of the USA's 12 players scored, led by David Robinson's 16 points and 11 rebounds. Canada challenged the U.S. throughout its contest, but in the end it was the Americans' scoring balance that made the difference as all 12 U.S. team members scored in the 76-70 victory. Hersey Hawkins paced the U.S. scoring with 13 points connecting on three-of-four three-point tries.

Brazil, which had defeated the U.S. a year earlier in the Pan American Games, was expected to test the Americans, and the U.S. passed the test recording a 102-87 win as again all 12 USA men scored, led by J.R. Reid's 16-point, eight-rebound effort. China was mowed over by the U.S. contingent 108-57 as eight U.S. players scored in double digits, including 20 points and nine rebounds from Dan Majerle. The U.S. closed out its pool play with a 102-35 thrashing of Egypt as Majerle and Robinson led the U.S. with 18 points each. Facing Puerto Rico in the quarterfinals, the U.S. led by 20 at half and sailed to a 94-57 win as Danny Manning scored 18 points.

The long awaited USA-USSR Olympic matchup finally occurred, but it was in the semifinals. The game was the first Olympic matchup between the superpowers since the controversial 1972 Olympic finals. The U.S., playing without Hawkins who was injured, and forced to go without Manning for most of the first half because of foul trouble, struggled against the Soviets and at half trailed by 10 points, 47-37. The U.S. closed within two twice, 52-50 after a Reid steal and slam with 13:46 left and 59-57 on a fast-break basket by Willie Anderson. However, the Soviets answered with a 10-3 run to take a 69-60 lead with 5:25 remaining. With just over a minute left, the U.S. pulled within three, but again the Soviets turned back the U.S. rally and held on for the 82-76 win. Robinson led the U.S. with an outstanding 19-point, 12-rebound effort and Majerle added 15 points. Rimas Kourtinaitis led the USSR with 28 points, hitting four-of-10 three-point field goals.

Determined not to leave Seoul without a medal, the U.S. rebounded to crush Australia, 78-49. Trailing 5-4, the U.S. responded with an 18-2 run to take command 25-7 and end all Australian hopes of an upset. Mitch Richmond, Majerle and Robinson each scored 12 in the win. In the gold medal game, the Soviets, who had been beaten 92-79 by Yugoslavia earlier in pool play, reversed the outcome in the gold medal game, recording a 76-63 win over Yugoslavia for the gold.

1988 U.S. MEN'S OLYMPIC TEAM ROSTER

1988 U.S. MEN'S OLYMPIC TEAM CUMULATIVE STATISTICS