Team USA won their 16th Gold medal, a spectacular achievement in international basketball. Here are the best basketball players in team USA.

Top 10 Best Basketball Players In Team USA History.

The USA is by far the most successful country in basketball, as the next most successful country is the Soviet Union with 2 Gold medals while the only other countries to ever win Gold are Argentina (2004) and Yugoslavia (1980).

The dominance of the USA in international basketball is truly incredible, and this year was probably the most difficult one for Team USA to win.

Top 10 Best Basketball Players In Team USA History.

The 2004 loss in Greece was frustrating for the USA, but the roster was missing Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal – the two best players in the game.

This year, Team USA suffered embarrassing losses in exhibition matches and even a loss against France in the group stages.

But the team recovered, going undefeated the rest of the way and securing Gold thanks to an 87-82 victory led by Kevin Durant’s brilliance.

Here are the best basketball players in USA team :

1. Kevin Durant

Kevin Durant has solidified himself as the greatest player in Team USA history.

He won his 3rd Gold medal on Friday night and did it as the best player on the floor.

Top 10 Best Basketball Players In Team USA History.

Personal information
Born September 29, 1988 (age 33)
Washington, D.C., U.S.
Listed height 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
Listed weight 240 lb (109 kg)

Without Durant on Team USA’s squad in Japan, it would have been a very disappointing year for his country.

Durant has been spectacular for 3 straight Olympics, averaging a career 19.7 PPG for his country in that tournament.

Durant is the highest scorer in Team USA’s history, surpassing Carmelo Anthony this year with 435 points. 

2. Michael Jordan

Anytime Michael Jordan’s name comes up, winning is always associated.

Top 10 Best Basketball Players In Team USA History.

Personal information
Born February 17, 1963 (age 59)
New York City, New York, U.S.
Listed height 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Listed weight 216 lb (98 kg)

Jordan is a renowned winner with 6 championships and 6 Finals MVPs, without ever losing in an NBA Finals. Quite fittingly, Jordan never lost any international competition he played in either.

The greatest NBA player ever won the Gold medal twice in the Olympics, averaging 16.0 PPG and ranking 5th all-time in point scored (256).

3. LeBron James

LeBron’s name always appears on every all-time list because of his incredible talents and longevity.

Top 10 Best Basketball Players In Team USA History.

Personal information
Born December 30, 1984 (age 37)
Akron, Ohio, U.S.
Listed height 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
Listed weight 250 lb (113 kg)

The King is a basketball machine, always showing up and showing out for his team and country, and ranks 3rd all-time in the greatest players in Team USA history.

James ranks 3rd in total points scored (273) with an average of 11.4 PPG.

James has 2 Gold medals in the Olympic Games and won a Gold in the FIBA Americas as well.

Playing 5 different international championships is truly impressive and LeBron was always one of the best players in the tournament. 

4. Kobe Bryant

The great shooting guard was a fantastic servant for Team USA, winning 2 Gold medals in the Olympics and Gold in the FIBA Americas Championship.

Top 10 Best Basketball Players In Team USA History.

Personal information
Born August 23, 1978
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died January 26, 2020 (aged 41)
Calabasas, California, U.S.
Listed height 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Listed weight 212 lb (96 kg)

Bryant proved his clutch gene when he took over the 4th quarter of the Gold medal match against Spain in 2008, scoring 13 points and dishing out 2 assists.

Spain had cut the Team USA lead to 2 points with 8:13 remaining in the quarter.

The onslaught ensued, with Bryant proving his ability as the best player in the game and putting Spain away once and for all. 

5. Carmelo Anthony

The 10-time NBA All-Star represented the United States at four Olympics Games, winning three gold medals and one bronze.

Top 10 Best Basketball Players In Team USA History.

Personal information
Born May 29, 1984 (age 38)
New York City, New York, U.S.
Listed height 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
Listed weight 238 lb (108 kg)

Anthony always seemed to play his best when he suited up for his country and took the role as a primary scorer with his heart.

Despite playing with other great players, Anthony always showed up.

Carmelo Anthony leads all Team USA players in career Olympic games (31) and rebounds (125) and is second in points (336) and three-pointers (57). 

6. Charles Barkley

Nobody questions Charles Barkley’s Hall of Fame credentials, because he is one of the greatest power forwards in the history of the game.

Top 10 Best Basketball Players In Team USA History.

Personal information
Born February 20, 1963 (age 59)
Leeds, Alabama, U.S.
     Listed height      6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Listed weight 252 lb (114 kg)

But his brute style of play was perfect for international play, which is why he holds 2 Gold medals in the Olympics.

Playing for the “Dream Team” and making a name for yourself was not easy, because winners such as Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen were on the roster alongside legends in Magic Johnson and Larry Bird.

But Barkley led the Dream Team in scoring at 18.0 PPG, a feat which is incredible because fans might have considered some other names first. 

7. Scottie Pippen

Mainly remembered for his exploits in winning 6 NBA championships alongside Michael Jordan in Chicago, Scottie Pippen is easily one of the greatest players in international history.

Top 10 Best Basketball Players In Team USA History.

Personal information
Born September 25, 1965 (age 56)
Hamburg, Arkansas, U.S.
Listed height 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
Listed weight 228 lb (103 kg)

The defensive wing won Gold twice in the Olympics, locking up dominant European players including Toni Kukoc, and playing his best for his country.

Pippen and Michael Jordan brought their chemistry in Chicago into the Olympic Games, headlining the Dream Team while Pippen led the team in assists per game.

8. David Robinson

The Admiral was one of the best two-way centers in NBA history, and his play continued whenever he suited up for international competition.

Top 10 Best Basketball Players In Team USA History.

Personal information
Born August 6, 1965 (age 57)
Key West, Florida
Nationality American
      Listed height       7 ft 1 in (2.16 m)
Listed weight 250 lb (113 kg)

Robinson is currently ranked 4th all-time in points scored in the Olympics (270) with an average of 11.3 PPG.

The Hall of Famer played in 3 Olympic Games, winning Gold twice as the best center on the floor in 1992 and 1996.

Robinson’s sheer strength was a factor in Team USA’s ability to bang with opposing bigs, and his passing out the post and inside scoring allowed his team to play inside and out.

9. Oscar Robertson

Oscar Robertson only has one Gold medal to his name, but how he did it was truly legendary.

Top 10 Best Basketball Players In Team USA History.

Personal information
Born November 24, 1938 (age 83)
Charlotte, Tennessee, US
Listed height 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Listed weight 205 lb (93 kg)

Leading a group of older guys and captaining his country, Robertson was unstoppable by averaging 17 PPG and blowing out teams by an average margin of over 40 points per game!

A transcended player during his time, Robertson was the best triple-double threat on the floor every night as a 6’5” point guard.

His scoring and playmaking were essential as he was the undisputed best player on the floor during the 1960 Olympics where he brought the Gold home.

10. Dwyane Wade

Dwyane Wade won the Gold in 2008 after an intense final showdown with Spain, as that was the highest mark of Wade’s career as an Olympian.

Top 10 Best Basketball Players In Team USA History.

Personal information
Born January 17, 1982 (age 40)
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
      Listed height      6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Listed weight 220 lb (100 kg)

Throughout his career in international play, Wade held a 36-5 record which was good for a spectacular 87.8% winning percentage.

Wade brought his lane-penetration and lockdown defense as one of the best players on the team and never disappointed.

The 2004 loss in Athens might stick in Wade’s memory, but the roster was not up to par with key stars such as Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal missing. 

By Rishabh

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