The story of USA Basketball is one of redemption and dominance. While the “Dream Team” era of the 1990s painted a picture of effortless gold medals, the reality of international basketball competition took a sharp turn in the early 2000s. To truly appreciate the current success and anticipate Where To Watch Usa Basketball continue their reign, it’s crucial to understand the pivotal moments that reshaped the program.
The 1992 Dream Team, with its constellation of NBA superstars, had set an impossibly high standard. Victories at the 1996 and 2000 Olympics seemed to confirm America’s unchallenged supremacy. However, cracks began to show at the 2002 FIBA World Championships in Indianapolis. A team featuring NBA talents like Paul Pierce and Michael Finley, under the guidance of coach George Karl, stumbled to a shocking sixth-place finish, suffering defeats against Spain, Argentina, and Yugoslavia. This underwhelming performance served as a warning sign, but it was the 2004 Athens Olympics that truly exposed the vulnerabilities of USA Basketball.
Jerry Colangelo reflecting on the changes needed to restore USA Basketball’s dominance, a key figure in understanding where to watch a winning team.
Heading into the 2004 Games, several top NBA players declined to participate, citing concerns that included security anxieties following the September 11th attacks. The resulting roster, hastily assembled by coach Larry Brown and assistant Gregg Popovich, lacked cohesion and experience. Despite featuring names like Allen Iverson, Stephon Marbury, and Tim Duncan, alongside rookies LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, and Dwyane Wade, the team struggled from the outset. A humbling bronze medal finish was salvaged, but the 2004 Olympics were widely considered a disaster, a stark contrast to the expected dominance and highlighting the importance for fans wondering where to watch USA Basketball to see a team that truly represents American excellence.
This Athens debacle became the catalyst for significant change within USA Basketball. The narrative of this turning point, filled with insights from key figures, reveals not just the struggles of a team, but the subsequent rise back to the top, making the journey of USA Basketball all the more compelling to follow and understand where to watch their games.
Luis Scola, Argentina forward: “The first time I played against [Team USA] was in ’99 in Puerto Rico. We were trying to qualify to the Olympics in 2000. We were very young — I was 19, Manu [Ginobili] was 21, [Andres] Nocioni was 19 — nobody was above 25. I was guarding Vin Baker, and I remember thinking this is just impossible. There’s nobody in the world who could compete with these guys. They’re taller than me, he weighs like 20 more pounds than I do but he runs faster and he shoots from farther and he can play in the post and he can guard. How can I compete? There’s no one area I can take advantage of him. I felt miles away, like it was another sport for us. We didn’t qualify to Sydney, but we start playing really well and things start to change after that tournament. The second time we play them, we still lost by 30 but we play a lot better. And the year after we start growing, and by 2002 things are completely different for us.”
Jerry Colangelo, USAB Director since 2005: “From ’92 on, there was a committee put together of NBA people — coaches, general managers. And in ’04, we had players selected by a committee. But some players didn’t want to go for whatever reasons. Contracts, some wanted to take the time off, some had no interest. What didn’t exist was this desire to represent your country. But the committee format left something to be desired.”
Bill Simmons, sportswriter and author: “We sent this team to the ’04 Olympics that was basically an All-Star team, and there was no thought into how the guys would mesh with one another. I looked at our team and I was like, ‘Stephon Marbury is gonna be playing, who’s the other guy? The backcourt is Marbury and [Allen] Iverson? We’re screwed! Those guys are gonna be in fistfights for the ball.’”
The lack of team cohesion and preparation for the 2004 Olympics is a stark reminder of what can go wrong, making the subsequent rebuilding process even more impressive and the current USA Basketball program something fans eagerly seek where to watch. The haphazard team selection process and the absence of a unified vision contributed significantly to the disappointing outcome.
Larry Brown, the 2004 Team USA head coach, whose experience highlights the challenges in quickly assembling a winning Olympic team, valuable context for fans looking to know where to watch a well-prepared Team USA.
Larry Brown, Team USA head coach (2004): “You know that’s a sore point in my mind. That whole thing makes the hair on the back of my head stand up because we had Ray Allen, we had Jason Kidd, we had Kevin Garnett, Tracy McGrady, Vince Carter — that was an amazing team that was put together that qualified. We had Argentina down 37 points at halftime in 2003. That team had to qualify and they were playing unbelievable basketball, and then hardly any of those guys come. That team never went to the Olympics because of 9/11.”
Colangelo: “I’m not saying they were second-tier players, but it wasn’t the team that Larry Brown was hopeful of fielding in the ’04 Games.”
Marv Albert, TV sportscaster: “[Brown] probably felt he could win with them, particularly since he knew Iverson. I don’t think you can win in the Olympics unless you have a team where you know guys are gonna play together. I just don’t think you can win.”
Brown: “We didn’t get any practice time. They kind of picked the team at random and it’s totally unfair. A lot of people were critical of the coaches — I can accept that — but they’re critical of the players. Well, the players had the balls to go during that time to Greece. These kids, a lot of them weren’t really sure what was going to happen. We were in Turkey and the hotel got bombed, and then we go to Greece and they hate — they’re not really excited about the Americans. These kids did some unbelievable things under difficult circumstances, with no time to prepare, no time to practice.”
The lack of preparation time and the external pressures faced by the 2004 team further contributed to their struggles. This context is essential for fans today to appreciate the dedication and meticulous planning that now goes into USA Basketball, making it a team worth seeking out where to watch and support.
Luis Scola, Argentina forward, offering insights into the weaknesses of the 2004 Team USA, providing context for the improvements fans now witness when they watch USA Basketball.
Scola: “Obviously they are extremely talented, but they don’t adjust well to the rules. They are frustrated about it. They didn’t decide to just play through it, they were complaining a lot. This was a team that could be beat.”
The opening game of the Athens Olympics saw Team USA suffer a devastating 92-73 defeat to Puerto Rico, the worst loss in US international play history. This shock result highlighted the team’s vulnerabilities and set a negative tone for the entire tournament. For those wondering where to watch USA Basketball now, this historical low point underscores the incredible turnaround that has occurred.
Rod Thorn, former Olympic Committee chairman: “When we lost the first game to Puerto Rico in the bracket, it was like, ‘Wait a minute, we can beat these guys.’ And, you know, was the team constructed exactly like you’d like it to be? In retrospect, obviously it wasn’t.”
Doug Collins, former coach and TV analyst: “In 2004, I broadcast the games in Athens, and it was a disaster. The level of frustration — there were rumblings that they wanted to send guys home before they even got to the Olympics. And basically, I think the commissioner said, ‘No, this is our team,’ but there were things along the way that you knew were gonna come to a head once we got to the Olympics and I was there to watch it. Mike Breen and I did the games and when we’d take our headsets off after the game, we were like, ‘What did we just watch? What was that?’”
Luis Scola, recalling Argentina’s confidence against the struggling 2004 Team USA, contrasting with the dominance fans expect to see when they tune in to watch USA Basketball today.
Scola: “By the time we get to play the U.S., we felt prepared. This was our chance. They had talent, but in a one-game scenario we knew it was possible. … We knew that we needed to let them shoot. We needed to pack the paint, not let them go inside, because with their athleticism and their strength it was going to be almost impossible to beat them. We needed to make them shoot, and they shot pretty bad that game.”
Collins: “[Team USA] won the bronze medal and I said, ‘Something’s gotta be done.’ We had gotten so arrogant that we had thought it didn’t matter — we can send anybody and win. And after ’04 we found out we couldn’t do that.”
The bronze medal was a disappointing consolation prize, and it served as a wake-up call. The arrogance that had crept into USA Basketball was shattered, paving the way for a new era of humility and renewed focus on team building. This transformation is what makes watching USA Basketball today so meaningful, a testament to their journey from failure to sustained success, and informing fans’ interest in where to watch their games.
Allen Iverson, a member of the 2004 Team USA, reflecting on the disappointment of not winning gold, a sentiment that fueled the desire for redemption and makes current USA Basketball victories even sweeter for fans to watch.
Allen Iverson, 2004 Team USA guard: “Yeah, [losing] hurt. I mean, ’cause I was a part of it. It always haunts me because my dream was to win a gold medal, but the way I look at life is, the things that I’ve accomplished, people where I’m from don’t even get to the doorstep of doing anything like that. So I thank God that I had the opportunity to do it, but yeah, it still bothered me.”
LeBron James, 2004 Team USA forward: “We didn’t have the discipline, we didn’t have the structure to be able to play on a world stage. We had great basketball players but we didn’t have the structure, and I think that’s part of why we finished third.”
Allen Iverson, highlighting the limited roles for young stars like LeBron James on the 2004 team, illustrating the team’s misalignment and making the strategic team construction of current USA Basketball teams a key aspect for viewers.
Iverson: “LeBron James might’ve played five minutes a game, Carmelo might’ve played five minutes a game. It’s just a whole bunch of things. I mean, it just wasn’t meant to be. It’s simple as that. The talent was there — it just didn’t happen.”
Collins: “They chose LeBron James on that team, who was a young player. Carmelo Anthony, some young guys. Those guys have always played, and now you’re asking them to come and sit there?”
The roles and responsibilities within the 2004 team were not clearly defined, leading to frustration and underutilization of talent. This contrasts sharply with the well-defined roles and team-first mentality that characterizes successful USA Basketball teams today, teams that fans are eager to where to watch perform.
Bill Simmons, emphasizing the tough but ultimately beneficial coaching approach Larry Brown took with young players on the 2004 team, a learning experience that contributed to their future success and the winning culture of USA Basketball that fans now seek to watch.
Simmons: “People close to LeBron always say that was good, the way Larry Brown treated the young guys on that team. He treated them like young guys. They had never been treated like they weren’t the s—, and that was the first time they had some coach like, ‘Yeah, you’re not gonna play; I’ve got these other guys.’”
Brown: “I thought, man, under the circumstances, they did pretty darn good. Spain was great that year, and we had to beat them [to reach the semifinals], Tim Duncan fouled out of every game, hardly got to play.”
Collins: “[Duncan] got so frustrated he said, ‘I’ll never play in the Olympics again.’”
David Stern, NBA commissioner (1984-2014): “2004 affected our thinking about this whole Olympic experience because it became clear that even though we were trying to be good partners and leave it to USA Basketball, that [the NBA] was going to ultimately get blamed for anything that happened. So we made the determination that we had to take a more active role in the entire Olympic experience.”
The fallout from 2004 led to a fundamental shift in how USA Basketball was managed. The NBA recognized the need for greater involvement and a more proactive approach to ensure future success. This marked the beginning of a new era, one that prioritized meticulous planning, player commitment, and a unified vision, making the question of where to watch USA Basketball a question about witnessing a program reborn.
Luis Scola, suggesting the 2004 tournament was a necessary turning point for USA Basketball, highlighting the importance of this failure in shaping the dominant team fans are now excited to watch.
Scola: “That’s what they needed. That tournament was what they needed to say, ‘Enough is enough, we are going to put effort in this.’”
Jerry Colangelo was appointed as the Director of USA Basketball in 2005, tasked with rebuilding the program from the ground up. His first crucial step was to convene a gathering of basketball minds to analyze the failures of the past and chart a new course for the future. This marked the beginning of the “Redeem Team” era, a period of sustained excellence that continues to this day, and provides a compelling reason for fans to find where to watch USA Basketball.
Jerry Colangelo, detailing his conditions for taking over USA Basketball, emphasizing the autonomy and resources needed to rebuild the program and ensure future success that fans can now witness.
Colangelo: “When David Stern called me back in ’05, I was home recovering from prostate cancer after having sold the Suns. It was a traumatic year for me, ’04. So David called, saying, ‘Would you take over USA Basketball?’ And I said, ‘Sure, two conditions: full autonomy — I pick the coaches and the players. No more committees or politics.’ And he said, ‘Absolutely, you got it, what’s No. 2?’ and I said, ‘I don’t want to hear about a budget.’ And he went off ranting and raving and I let him go and I said, ‘Are you finished?’ and he acquiesced.”
Stern: “He took it very seriously, and you know, he announces to the world in every interview: He said he had complete freedom and his budget was complete, and that he could spare no expenditure. If you put me up against the wall under oath I would nitpick that somewhat, but he was perfect because he was respected and devoted and he went about putting together the team the way it should be.”
“It always haunts me because my dream was to win a gold medal, but the way I look at life is, the things that I’ve accomplished, people where I’m from don’t even get to the doorstep of doing anything like that. So I thank God that I had the opportunity to do it, but yeah, it still bothered me.” Allen Iverson, on winning bronze in the 2004 Olympics
Jerry Colangelo, describing the meeting of basketball minds he convened to reshape USA Basketball, a crucial step in creating the winning program that now captivates audiences worldwide.
Colangelo: “If you were a basketball fly on the wall, you couldn’t have picked a better place to be. I called a meeting in Chicago of former Olympic coaches and athletes, and I held it at the Italian American Sports Hall of Fame on Taylor Street and, with the exception of Pete Newell, from the ’60 team, who was recovering from cancer surgery, and Bobby Knight, who was on some fishing trip or something, which disappointed me, every other [Olympic] coach was there going back to 1960. Larry Brown wasn’t, ’cause he was coaching in the playoffs I think, but you name ’em, they were all there — Lenny [Wilkens], Chuck Daly, Rudy [Tomjanovich], and on. Then I had athletes like Jerry West and Michael Jordan. We had 30-some people there. I wanted to pick their brains out of respect for them, bringing the basketball people together to have this discussion. I had each one of them talk. What was your experience as an Olympian? How do you see things? What do you think needs to happen? Everyone had a chance to speak. It was great stuff, and once all that was over with I said, ‘Well, now let’s talk about coaches.’”
Stern: “Only someone with Jerry’s gravitas could have selected a coach not from the NBA ranks, but from the college ranks.”
Jerry Colangelo, explaining the process of selecting Mike Krzyzewski as the head coach, a pivotal decision that ushered in an era of unprecedented success for USA Basketball and made their games must-watch events.
Colangelo: “I put some college coaches up on the board and I put some pro coaches up on the board, and I let people speak. And I remember, this was a great moment: Dean Smith said, ‘There’s only one college coach up there that could get the job done, and that’s Coach K.’ His biggest rival was [Mike Krzyzewski]. But, out of respect, Dean Smith made his point. Now, going into that meeting, I had two names in my mind. It was Popovich on the pro side and it was Coach K on the college side. [Krzyzewski] was an Army, West Point guy, and Popovich had a lot of the same stuff. So when you talk about a couple of candidates, you couldn’t go wrong.”
Thorn: “[Colangelo] went against the grain of a lot of people in the NBA thinking, ‘Why should you get a college coach to do it?’ But obviously it’s worked out very well.”
Mike Krzyzewski, Coach K, emphasizing the importance of a collaborative coaching approach, a key element in the sustained success of USA Basketball and a reason why fans tune in to watch their games.
Mike Krzyzewski, Team USA head coach since 2008: “You know, I think a really good head coach understands that it’s not just his voice that the team needs to hear. In fact, a team might get tired of just hearing one voice, and so you want people around you who are smart, loyal, prepared, and then you have to give them an opportunity to express themselves. And a number of times they’ll say it better than you, or say it with more passion, or it might be received better than what you said because you’ve said too much. You know, there’s an on-off switch that players have — like how much are you willing to listen to today from me? And then maybe another message might be able to come across because it’s done by Jim Boeheim, Tom Thibodeau or Monty Williams. Or you ask a player and they might say it, and they might say it in a language that’s better than yours.”
The selection of Mike Krzyzewski, “Coach K,” as head coach was a masterstroke. His leadership, combined with Colangelo’s vision, instilled a new sense of purpose and commitment within USA Basketball. They focused on building a team culture, emphasizing patriotism, and demanding dedication, transforming USA Basketball into a program that fans are now eager to where to watch and support.
One of the primary challenges for Colangelo and Krzyzewski was to convince American players of the significance of international competition, equating it with the prestige of winning an NBA championship. They aimed to reignite a sense of patriotism and duty, making representing the USA a coveted honor once again. This renewed sense of purpose is palpable in every USA Basketball game, making it a compelling spectacle for anyone wondering where to watch elite basketball.
Charles Barkley, a 1992 and 1996 Olympic gold medalist, highlighting the unique patriotism of the Olympics, a sentiment that USA Basketball successfully re-established and that fans can feel when watching their games.
Charles Barkley, 1992 and 1996 Olympic gold medalist: “There’s nothing like the patriotism that goes on during the Olympics, because the first thing you realize — we’re the least patriotic country in the world. What I mean by that is, when you go there, everybody has a flag on their back. It was a great honor to put the ‘USA’ on your chest, but the really cool thing about the Olympics was to see how the other countries love their players.”
Kevin Durant, 2012 and 2016 Olympic gold medalist: “[In] 2010, that was my first taste of [international] competition and what opened my eyes were the other countries. We played against Lithuania and the whole arena had flags out, singing their national anthem, and they had so much pride. You could tell that’s what brought the whole country together. And here in the States it’s kind of a shame that that doesn’t unite us as well. I know our country is one of the most powerful in the world, but it feels like our states are divided. Stuff like that should bring us closer. It brought France closer, it brought Spain closer, it brought Lithuania closer. Turkey, they were celebrating ’cause they won the silver medal. If we’d have won silver as Americans? We would have got — we would have been labeled as the worst team ever.”
Bill Simmons, contrasting the brand-focused approach of the 2004 team with the patriotic and team-oriented ethos of the “Redeem Team” era, showcasing the transformation that makes modern USA Basketball games so compelling to watch.
Simmons: “The ’04 Olympic team was kinda the culmination of people making decisions about what’s good for their brand and not ’cause they love basketball. It was like they weren’t playing for their country, they weren’t part of a bigger plan, they were there because the shoe company was happy that they were there or because they wanted to be there from an ego. Nobody was there to win the gold medal.”
Thorn: “When you really look at it, players give up a lot [to compete internationally]. The season is forever and they give up their summer to play on the USA team. Conversely, they can make huge names for themselves, but you’re asking players to do a lot, and if you go back historically I can remember when Bill Walton didn’t play in the Olympics, Kareem [Abdul-Jabbar] wouldn’t play in the Olympics.”
LeBron James, reflecting on the differing perspectives of American and international players towards national team play, highlighting the cultural shift USA Basketball initiated to instill pride in representing the country.
James: “I think foreign players feel differently about the NBA as far as winning a championship compared to winning a gold medal and playing for their country. I think as kids in America and as an African-American kid, your whole mindset growing up is ‘I wanna be in the NBA.’ You don’t really understand the importance playing for your country. It’s not preached about, it’s not talked about, it’s not shown.”
Tom Thibodeau, Team USA assistant (2016): “Jerry Colangelo, Mike Krzyzewski, Jim Boeheim — they brought the patriotism back to it. I think all our players feel very strongly about representing our country. The pride is there now. I had the opportunity in my first year as head coach in Chicago of watching Derrick [Rose] participate, and I saw when he came back, the pride he had in winning the gold.”
Chris Paul, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, emphasizing the unifying power of Team USA, a team that transcends typical sports rivalries and represents national unity for fans watching worldwide.
Chris Paul, 2008 and 2012 Olympic gold medalist: “When I play for the Los Angeles Clippers, do Boston fans cheer for the Clippers? No. When you play on the USA team, everybody comes together. There’s no other team like that. When you go to opening ceremonies, you get goose bumps, like this is the biggest team that you’re on in life.”
The first test of the Colangelo-Krzyzewski era came at the 2006 FIBA World Championships in Japan. While the team, featuring stars like James, Anthony, Paul, Wade, and Dwight Howard, reached the semifinals undefeated, they suffered an upset loss to Greece. This defeat, despite being less catastrophic than 2004, served as a reminder that even with renewed commitment, international competition remained fierce. For fans wondering where to watch USA Basketball, this game highlights the ongoing challenge and excitement of every contest.
Chris Paul, recounting the painful loss to Greece in 2006, underscoring the high stakes and emotional investment of playing for USA Basketball, factors that enhance the viewing experience for fans.
Paul: “I was on the team in ’06. We lost to Greece, and I lie to you not, we didn’t wanna come home. I’m telling you, we did not wanna come home. That’s one of the toughest losses that I’ve ever felt.”
Anthony Davis, 2012 Olympic gold medalist: “Coach K, he’s so passionate about Team USA and being able to represent his country. He didn’t want us to forget why we’re there, so that side comes out to remind us, ‘All right, guys, even though we feel like we can beat anybody, we still gotta come out and play, because anybody can get hot.’ He always brings up ’06 in Greece when they lost, that guys was playin’ and they came out and then fell behind. So he tries to make sure we on that right page and that right mindset going into games.”
Mike Krzyzewski, Coach K, explaining the constant battle against human nature and complacency in maintaining USA Basketball’s winning edge, a factor that keeps fans engaged and wanting to watch every game.
Krzyzewski: “A lot of times you have to beat human nature. Your opponent is not the other team, it’s human nature: Has your team played three games in a week? Are guys coming with injuries? Have you won, so now are you just expecting to win? Is your best player going through a high or a low? Those are the opponents you have to beat — the human-nature opponents — before you ever get on a court and beat another opponent.”
By the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Team USA, now known as the “Redeem Team,” was fully prepared to reclaim its place at the top of international basketball. They dominated the tournament, culminating in a gold medal victory over Spain in a tense final. This victory marked the return of American dominance and the beginning of an unprecedented era of success. Since then, USA Basketball has remained undefeated in major international competitions, securing gold medals at the 2010 and 2014 FIBA World Championships, and the 2012 and 2016 Olympics. This sustained winning streak is a major draw for fans seeking where to watch USA Basketball.
Bill Simmons, describing the intensity of the 2008 gold medal game against Spain, highlighting Kobe Bryant’s clutch performance, moments that solidify USA Basketball’s legacy and make their games essential viewing.
Simmons: “The ’08 Olympics — one of my favorite games that nobody ever talks about. When USA beat Spain [for the gold medal], it got super tense in the last 10 minutes. Guys got tight. I call it the frozen face. And Kobe, to his credit, he’s like: ‘I got this. I’m gonna take it.’ He went out and made a couple big shots and they won, but you need that guy.”
Jim Boeheim, Team USA assistant since 2008: “Spain, they think they can beat us. They really do. They’ve got the Gasols, they’ve got great guards that play overseas and in the league. They’re a quality team and they’ve been playing together since they were young kids. We’ll play them time and time again, and they’re certainly right now the team that is the toughest to beat in the world.”
Jerry Colangelo, describing the emotional fulfillment of winning the 2008 gold medal, the culmination of his plan to rebuild USA Basketball and a reward for fans who have supported and watched their journey.
Colangelo: “When we won the gold medal, there was a moment when the medals were being distributed, ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’ was being played, the flag being raised. It was a moment of total fulfillment, because few people in life have the opportunity to have a plan, watch it executed perfectly, get the desired result, and it was that moment. It doesn’t get any better than that.”
Durant: “I was disappointed not making the [2008] Olympic team. I felt I played my way onto the team. Nobody really expected me to play that well in the practices, but I was 19 and I felt like I got snubbed. I felt disrespected, and I was like, ‘Nah, this can’t go down like that. It’s not happening again.’ I was just so upset that I wasn’t part of the Redeem Team. You could tell those guys had so much fun playing with each other and I wanted that even if I was on the bench. I just wanted to learn, soak that energy up from those guys.”
Mike Krzyzewski, Coach K, reflecting on the challenges of the 2012 Olympic victory after a shortened NBA season, highlighting the team’s resilience and further solidifying their status as a team worth watching.
Krzyzewski: “When we won in 2012 in London, it was a great win because it came after a strike-shortened season where a number of the guys that were on that team from Oklahoma City and Miami actually played in the [NBA] championship. And a week after they played that series, they were getting ready for the Olympics. So we were dealing with a team that was mentally and physically fried. We had to keep them energized, focused, and they did a great job, but we had to make a lot of adjustments to make sure that would happen.”
Paul: “Coolest thing we did, I think it was the 2012 Olympics. One of the very first practices, Coach K rolled out a TV in front of us and he played the Marvin Gaye national anthem [from the 1983 NBA All-Star Game], which to me is the best national anthem ever sang. He played it for us before our first practice, and just to see our team and how everybody just was like, ‘Let’s go, let’s go!’ It’s something I’ll never forget, and once we started playing games, before the next game there would be a little highlight tape from the previous game, and in the locker room they would play it over the national anthem before every one of our games.”
Anthony Davis, recalling his initial reluctance and subsequent growth experience with Team USA in 2012, highlighting the developmental aspect of the program and the high level of play fans can expect to see.
Davis: “2012 for Team USA was unbelievable. I got drafted and went to New Orleans first, and I still thought I wasn’t ready to even go into the league. I was the No. 1 pick so there was a lot of pressure on me, so I go to the coach [Monty Williams]’s office, I’m like: ‘Coach, I’m not feeling this. I’d rather be here and work with the guys [in New Orleans].’ Coach Mont said, ‘Nope, you’re going to Team USA. It’s a great experience and you will be a better player being around all them guys and coaches.’ So I gotta do it.”
James: “It started with Jerry Colangelo, down to Coach K and our coaching staff, and then me as one of the team leaders, and it just trickled down to everybody else.”
Anthony Davis, expressing his awe at playing alongside legends like LeBron James on Team USA, emphasizing the star power and high-caliber basketball that makes USA Basketball games a must-watch event.
Davis: “I was looking up to LeBron when I was in college, and six months later he’s my teammate. At that time, I was definitely starstruck. And all those guys, now you get a chance to play with them, see how they are on the floor, see what they see. They tell you, ‘AD, go set the screen, I’ll throw the lob,’ and they’re doing it! LeBron, he’s throwing lobs — it’s actually happening! That was like the best feeling ever.”
Durant: “In London, it was such a team environment it was scary. You got the biggest stars in the game in one room — global brands — and you got so much sacrifice. James Harden, he had just come off of Sixth Man of the Year and you seen that he was ready to take the next step, and he sat the bench. He didn’t complain, he didn’t mope around, he was like, ‘All right, we’re gonna get this gold medal, ’cause at the end nobody gonna care who was the leading scorer on this team.’ Anthony Davis was there. He was a rookie, he soaked up everything, and look at him now. We had Kobe Bryant, who went games without shooting the ball. [Andre] Iguodala came off the bench, Tyson Chandler — we had so many great players and we played against some good teams. We had some close games, but nobody cared who took the shots, nobody cared who was the leader. Everybody had a voice. It was like, ‘If we get this gold medal, then who cares?’”
Where to Watch USA Basketball Games:
For fans eager to witness the next chapter in USA Basketball’s storied legacy, finding where to watch their games is essential. Here are several platforms and channels where you can typically catch USA Basketball action:
- Television Broadcasts: Major networks like ESPN, ABC, and NBC often broadcast USA Basketball games, especially during major tournaments like the Olympics and the FIBA World Cup. Check your local listings for specific game schedules.
- Streaming Services: ESPN+ is a primary streaming service for many USA Basketball events. FuboTV, Hulu + Live TV, Sling TV, and YouTube TV also often carry channels that broadcast USA Basketball games. These services provide flexibility to watch on various devices.
- Official FIBA Channels: For FIBA World Cup and other international competitions, keep an eye on FIBA’s official streaming platforms (Courtside 1891, for example, depending on region) or YouTube channel which may offer live games or highlights depending on broadcast rights.
- NBA League Pass: While NBA League Pass focuses on NBA games, it can sometimes carry exhibition games or special events involving USA Basketball players.
- Social Media and Online Highlights: Keep an eye on USA Basketball’s official social media channels (Twitter, Instagram, Facebook) and YouTube channel for highlights, game recaps, and potential live streaming of certain events. ESPN’s website and app are also excellent resources for game information and highlights.
Conclusion:
The journey of USA Basketball, from the humbling defeat in 2004 to their sustained dominance in subsequent years, is a compelling narrative of redemption and excellence. Understanding this history adds depth to the experience of watching USA Basketball today. Whether you’re a long-time fan or new to the sport, knowing where to watch USA Basketball allows you to witness the pinnacle of international basketball competition, showcasing the world’s best players competing for national pride. Don’t miss the opportunity to see the next chapter unfold – check the schedules, find your preferred viewing platform, and get ready to cheer on Team USA!
