Men’s basketball is one of the most-awaited events of the Olympics. It’s not just because fans get to see NBA players play for their respective countries against the seemingly invincible Team USA.
More importantly, it’s about the pride and passion that each nation plays with that brings out the best in every hooper.
The upcoming Olympics 2024 in Paris promises to dish out more hard-court Olympics 2024 highlights, and it would surely be a special one with NBA legends LeBron James and Stephen Curry set to play in their final international tournament with the United States.
With the Team USA assembling the so-called ‘Avengers’ to win them another Olympic gold and bounce back from a disappointing FIBA World Cup, the Olympics 2024 odds have them as the heavy favourites.
But for all the razzle-dazzle and awe-inspiring greatness of the Americans, there are some moments that have upstaged the most dominant hoop country in the world.
Carlos Arroyo’s crowning moment
Perhaps the most shocking of all the defeats the United States have suffered—and there’s not much I tell you—was when Carlos Arroyo dissected the 2004 Team USA. The ’04 squad, despite being remembered as a colossal failure, were not short on talent.
Allen Iverson, Tim Duncan, Amar’e Stoudemire, and Stephon Marbury were some of the notable names included in the team. Rookies LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Carmelo Anthony also featured on the loaded squad.
Arroyo could not care less.
With his role for Puerto Rico much different than that of what he was asked to do in the NBA, Arroyo stole the show with his streetball-esque moves, coupled with brilliant playmaking, elite shotmaking, and finished the game with 24 points and seven assists.
But aside from his mesmerising performance, the entire squad played out of their minds during that fateful day. Eddie Casiano had 18 points on four triples, Jose ‘Piculin’ Ortiz clinched eight points and six rebounds, and Larry Ayuso chipped in 15 points as well, en route to a 92-73 win.
That was the first game of the 2004 Team USA in the Olympics that year. But it wouldn’t be their first loss.
Argentina and Manu in ‘04
SBOTOP basketball fans can never forget how strong that 2004 Argentina side were. Led by Manu Ginobili, Luis Scola, Carlos Delfino, Walter Hermann, Fabricio Obertio, and Ruben Wolkowyski the Argentines claimed their first-ever Olympic basketball medal after stellar performances against USA and Italy.
Whilst the win against Italy in the final would mark their triumph, it was the semi-final win against the 2004 Team USA that cemented their place as the best international basketball team that year.
After the shock upsets against Carlos Arroyo led Puerto Rico and Sarunas Jasikevicius’ Lithuania, Larry Brown still had a chance to lead the United States to a gold medal, even with the tumultuous run they were having.
Unlucky for them, Manu Ginobili was in the prime of his life—and much like Carlos Arroyo, he too carved Team USA open.
‘El Contusione’ registered 29 points and shot 9-13 from the field, to go with his four three-pointers and 7-8 from the foul line.
Drafted 57th overall by the San Antonio Spurs in 1999, few would’ve thought that the acrobatic and athletic lefty from Bahia Blanca was capable of doing the impossible against Team USA.
There were no doubts he was good, but this performance showed he is a unique talent and would be vital for the Spurs for a long time.
Schmidt’s holy hand in ‘88
Few would’ve remembered the name Oscar Schmidt. But if you do, then you know how special of a basketball player the Brazilian was.
Called Mao Santa (Holy Hand), he was Brazil’s Wilt Chamberlain, Larry Bird, and Michael Jordan—if you will.
Until this day, he remains the Olympic’s top scorer with 1,093 points. He also holds the top points per-game average with 28.8. But his highest-scoring output with his nation came in Seoul in 1988 when he poured in 55 points against Spain.
They unfortunately lost the match, 118-110, but Oscar Schmidt was unplayable that night. He shot 17-28 from the field and 15-16 from the free-throw line. He did not win a medal in all his years playing for Brazil in the Olympics, but he remains the tournament’s top gunner.
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