Men’s Olympic Basketball Medals

Basketball has become a truly global game, diminishing United States dominance in a sport born on American soil. That called for a different level of commitment from USA Basketball, and the governing body delivered in putting together its 2008 Olympic team.

No more prima donnas. No more one-one-one play. No more half-hearted efforts on the defensive end, and no more backing down from the more physical aspects of international competition.

All of that came together in Beijing, where the “Redeem Team” made up for the bronze medal finish of 2004 with a hard-fought victory over Spain in the gold medal game, restoring some lost luster to both the NBA and U.S. basketball in general.

Here are the Olympic medalist in men’s basketball since the sport joined the program in 1936:

1936: – USA; Silver – Canada; Bronze – Mexico

1948: Gold – USA; Silver – France; Bronze – Brazil

1952: Gold – USA; Silver – URS; Bronze – Uruguay

1956: Gold – USA; Silver – URS; Bronze – Uruguay

1960: Gold – USA; Silver – URS; Bronze – Brazil

1964: Gold – USA; Silver – URS; Bronze – Brazil

1968: Gold – USA; Silver – Yugoslavia; Bronze – URS

1972: Gold – URS; Silver – USA; Bronze – Cuba

1976: Gold – USA; Silver – Yugoslavia; Bronze – URS

*1980: Gold – Yugoslavia; Silver – Italy; Bronze – URS

**1984: Gold – USA; Silver – Spain: Bronze – Yugoslavia

1988: Gold – URS; Silver – Yugoslavia; Bronze – USA

1992: Gold – USA; Silver – Croatia; Bronze – Lithuania

1996: Gold – USA: Silver – Yugoslavia; Silver – Lithuania

2000: Gold – USA; Silver – France; Bronze – Lithuania

2004: Gold – Argentina; Silver – Italy: Bronze – USA

2008: Gold – USA; Silver – Spain: Bronze – Argentina

Source: Hickok Sports