Facts & Photos: 2008 U.S. Olympic Men’s Basketball Team
The 2020 Tokyo Olympics were to be held July 24-Aug. 9, 2020, before the COVID-19 pandemic postponed the Summer Games to 2021. USA Basketball is celebrating the original dates of the 2020 Olympics with a look back at past U.S. Olympic men’s and women’s basketball teams through photos and fun facts. Be sure to check in daily for Olympic memories galore!
On this day in USA Basketball Olympic History: July 28
- In 2012 Tina Charles scored 14 points in her Olympic debut to lead the U.S. women to an 81-56 victory over Croatia; In 1996 Mitch Richmond’s 16 points led the U.S. men to a 102-71 defeat of Croatia; In 1952, Bob Kurland scored a team-high 15 points to lead the USA to an 86-58 preliminary round win over the Soviets, which the USA went on to down 36-25 in the gold medal game.
- Video (YouTube): Olympic Channel Features Kobe Bryant on 2008 Memories & Replay of USA vs. Spain in the 2008 Gold Medal Game
- Complete Recap of the 2008 U.S. Olympic Men's Basketball Team
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The 2008 Olympic Games were held in Beijing, China, where eight is believed to be a lucky number. The start of the Olympics was Aug. 8, 2008 (08-08-08), and the USA men compiled an 8-0 record in winning gold.
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After the USA’s bronze medal finish at the 2004 Olympics, USA Basketball revised its selection process, and the team was put together by USA Basketball Men’s National Team managing director Jerry Colangelo, with input from the coaching staff that was headed by Duke University Hall of Fame coach Mike Krzyzewski.
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The 2008 U.S. Olympic Men’s Basketball Team was nicknamed “The Redeem Team,” a moniker it lived up to in winning the gold medal and beating teams by an average of 27.8 points per game.
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The average age of the Redeem team was 26.0 years old, making it at that time the youngest U.S. Olympic Team comprised of NBA players to win gold. Of the seven U.S. Olympic Teams formed with NBA players since 1992, only the 2012 team, which averaged 25.8 years old, was younger. |
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The USA’s opened against host China, which was led by NBA All-Star Yao Ming, in a standing-room-only game that was viewed by an estimated one billion people worldwide and attended by then-President George W. Bush and former President George H.W. Bush. The USA beat China 101-70. |
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With the 2008 gold medal, Jason Kidd became the 13th U.S. male at that time to collect two Olympic gold medals. He also won gold at the 2000 Olympics and owned a flawless 51-0 record while playing for USA Basketball national teams from 1999 through 2008.
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Jason Kidd, Carmelo Anthony, Carlos Boozer, LeBron James and Dwyane Wade joined the small group that included 18 athletes who by 2008 had been a member of two U.S. Olympic basketball teams.
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Carmelo Anthony would go on to become a four-time Olympian, winning bronze in 2004 and gold in 2008, 2012 and 2016.
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LeBron James now is a three-time Olympian, having won bronze in 2004 and gold in 2008 and 2012.
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2008 was the Olympic debut for Kobe Bryant, Chris Paul and Deron Williams, who each also won gold at the 2012 London Olympics. |
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“We all jelled together as a team. These are relationships and bonds that we shared and will never forget. It lasts forever," said Kobe Bryant after winning gold in 2008. |
