Netflix’s Court of Gold docuseries takes an unprecedented look at Team USA’s historic gold medal run during the 2024 Paris Olympics, one of many in its legendary career. To this day, Team USA has very much maintained its status at the pinnacle of international basketball, even though nations such as France, Serbia, and Canada have greatly strengthened in recent years. The uptick in competition made the 2024 Paris Olympics Men’s Basketball Tournament one of the most anticipated in decades.
The 2024 Team USA Men’s Basketball squad was nicknamed “The Avengers” for good reason. Based on raw talent and combined glory alone, “The Avengers” is one of the greatest basketball teams ever assembled, period. They did more than prove this fact to the world throughout the 2024 Paris Olympics, going a perfect 3-0 in the opening round on the back of Kevin Durant’s dominating scoring and LeBron James’ excellent leadership. In the gold medal match, Steph Curry’s mesmerizing 3-point frenzy earned the United States another Olympic gold.
The US Has Won 17 Gold Medals For Men’s Basketball At The Olympics
They’ve Medaled In All 20 Of Their Olympic Appearances Dating Back To 1936
Following their gold medal victory against home nation France on Parisian soil in the 2024 Summer Olympic Games, Team USA extended their reign as the unparalleled champions of global basketball by earning a historic 17th gold medal. Team USA has medaled in all of its 20 total Olympic appearances dating back to 1936. Team USA has won 17 gold medals (1936, 1948, 1952, 1956, 1960, 1964, 1968, 1976, 1984, 1992, 1996, 2000, 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020, 2024), one silver medal (1972), and two bronze medals (1988, 2004).
The only other Olympic Men’s basketball teams to win gold are the Soviet Union (1972, 1988) and Argentina (2004). With a 51-50 loss against the Soviet Union, the 1972 Team USA broke a 63-game winning streak and became the first U.S. team to lose a gold medal game. The most controversial Team USA men’s basketball squad competed in 2004 in Athens. The team consisted of LeBron James, Dwayne Wade, Tim Duncan, Allen Iverson, and more lost to Puerto Rico in the opening round by 19, which remains the largest final score deficit in U.S. Olympic basketball history.
The US Men’s Basketball Team Has A Bigger Challenge At The Next Olympics After 2024’s Paris Games
The 2028 Olympics Will Be Held In Los Angeles & May Not Feature Legends Like Curry & LeBron
Court of Gold displays that Team USA’s path to winning gold is becoming more and more difficult thanks to the rise in international programs and players, many of whom are some of the best players in the NBA. The last 6 NBA Most Valuable Player awards have been given to international players – three to Serbia’s Nikola Jokić, two to Greece’s Giannis Antetokounmpo, and one to the Cameroon-born Joel Embid, who suited up for Team USA in 2024.
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Netflix’s Court of Gold offers exclusive interviews and in-game coverage that breathes new life into a historic tournament and a legendary Team USA.
Four of the six current 2024-2025 NBA MVP top projections are also international players, including Jokić, Antetokounmpo, France’s rising phenom, Victor Wembanyama, and the Canada-born frontrunner, Shai Gilgeous Alexander. Considering that the 2028 Olympics are on the US’s home base in Los Angeles, this puts more pressure on them to win gold again. Team USA 2028 could face a serious challenge without the legendary performances of Steph Curry and LeBron James as seen in Court of Gold, who could both be retired by then.
