Olympics Basketball Winners: With USA dominating the Olympic Gold Medal tally in men’s and women’s basketball, courtesy to NBA stars, take a look at their staggering number
Men’s basketball was introduced to the Olympic program at the 1904 Games in St Louis as a demonstration event but made its medal event debut at Berlin 1936 Games. Women’s basketball also made its debut 40 years later at Montreal 1976.
One of the most popular team sport event in Summer Olympics has been basketball, With a plethora of National Basketball Association (NBA) superstars entering the court to represent their respective countries, the sport has seem clear dominance by United States of America. The men’s tournament runs from July 25 to August 7 2021, with the women’s taking place from July 26 to August 8 2021.
Olympics Basketball Winners: Who has won the most Olympic gold medals in basketball?
Be it the Dream Team of Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen to the likes of Kevin Durant, LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook sharing the stage for USA, the country has won 28 out of 30 men’s and women’s basketball tournament, wherein 23 medals have been gold. Wherein 15 are bagged by the men’s team.
Apart from USA, Soviet Union has won 2 gold medal in men’s basketball in 1972 and 1988 Summer Olympics respectively. While Argentina and Yugoslavia has won the gold medal for the same in 2004 and 1980 respectively.
TEAM USA Holds The Reigns
Team USA’s men’s team was only deprived a medal in the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow since the emergence of the sport of basketball in Summer Olympics.
Although Taam USA was surprisingly beaten by Spain in the 2019 FIBA World Cup, there chances of winning their fourth consecutive gold medal in the men’s basketball and ninth consecutive gold medal in women’s basketball remain very strong.
However interestingly, all eyes will one the NBA playoffs as they are tentatively scheduled to run under the standard 16-team playoff format between May 22 and July 22, 2021. This might affect the impact of certain key players representing their respective country. It seems likely, however, that the players who go deep in the playoffs will be forced to miss the games.
Having said that, in Tokyo Olympics 2020, all basketball games will take place at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama.
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