Almada and Lisbon, Portugal - July 15-25, 1999

The USA Men's Junior World Championship Team fell just short in its goal of reclaiming the gold medal for the United States after earning a 7-1 record and the silver medal at the sixth FIBA Men's Junior World Championship in Portugal. The silver medal finish, however, bettered the USA's seventh-place performance at the 1995 Junior Worlds.

Five players finished averaging in double-digit scoring, with Michael Wright leading the way with 11.5 points per game. Steve Lepore averaged 10.5 ppg., and Chris Williams and Steve Logan each averaged 10.4 ppg. Bobby Simmons was the team's top rebounder, grabbing 5.0 caroms per game, while also contributing 8.0 ppg., and Keyon Dooling passed off for a team high 24 assists, while averaging a team fifth-best 9.6 ppg.

Overall, the U.S. squad outscored its opponents by 20.7 points a game, scoring 91.6 ppg. while limiting opponents 70.9 ppg. The USA outrebounded its opponents by 13.4 rebounds a game.

Behind 18 points and six rebounds from Chris Williams, the U.S. opened preliminary play with a 119-59 defeat of China. Getting 28 points and nine rebounds from Wright, the U.S. earned it second win in as many nights when it defeated defending Junior World Champion Greece 92-87. Behind a balanced attack, the Americans capped the preliminary round with a 96-53 victory over Egypt on July 18.

Advancing to the medal-quarterfinals round, Logan came off the bench to contribute a team-best 15 points as the U.S. upended Argentina 83-71 on July 20. Brazil fell to the rolling USA squad 89-71 on July 21 as Lance Williams poured in 25 points. Closing out quarterfinals pool play facing rival Russia, Dooling accounted for 18 points as the USA advanced to the medal-round semifinals after posting an 84-70 victory on July 22.

Tying a USA team single-game record for made 3-pointers after sinking nine, including four from Lepore, the U.S. beat Croatia 83-62 in Lisbon on July 24 to earn a berth in the gold medal game. Leading the USA were Chris Williams and Wright, who capped the game with 15 points apiece, while Collison contributed 13 and a game-high eight rebounds.

Despite a 19-point performance off the bench from Simmons, the USA was stopped short in its quest for a gold medal by Spain 94-87 on July 25. Deadlocked 47-47 at halftime after Logan made three free throws with two seconds left in the first half, Spain jumped out to a 56-49 advantage to start the second half. The U.S. rallied back to within one point at 11:09, 64-63, then Simmons scored all of the USA's points in a 9-2 run as the the U.S. moved out to a 72-66 lead with 10:25 to go. Spain fought back to take the lead 76-75 with 7:56 to go and never trailed again. The USA hung around though, and following a dunk by Dooling with 20 seconds left, Spain's lead was three, 90-87. The U.S. immediately fouled Spain's Juan Navarro. Navarro made the first of his free throws and missed the second, but Spain grabbed the offensive carom and scored a basket with 11 seconds left to put and end to the USA's gold medal dream.

In the bronze medal game, Croatia defeated Argentina 66-59.