Ranking Every Team USA from Best to Worst

To celebrate the Fourth of July, I’ll be ranking every Team USA based on the talent of the roster and their general entertainment value. The Olympics typically don’t feature the most competitive form of basketball due to Team USA’s overwhelming dominance throughout the years. For this list, I’ll only be considering the teams that featured professional players. Basketball Beeswax offers sincere apologies to Dan Majerle and the 1988 team.

7. 2004 Team USA

https://www.basketball-reference.com/international/teams/united-states/2004.html

This one was a no-brainer. The only team on this list not to win a gold medal is obviously the weakest. Just like any Olympic team, there’s plenty of fun to be had in watching this team operate. However, it feels at some points that the players selected in 2004 were chosen four years early. I’ll never get tired of watching young LeBron, Melo, and D-Wade play, but their 5-3 record left too much to be desired. I’d rather not dwell too much on the few negative aspects of Team USA’s storied history so I’ll leave you with some words of wisdom. This team was so disappointing that the next one had to be called ‘The Redeem Team’. Let that sink in.

6. 2000 Team USA

https://www.basketball-reference.com/international/teams/united-states/2000.html

The 2000 Team USA was created during a strange transition period for the league. Unlike the rest of the list, it has a lack of true star power. Coming off the heels of the MJ era and right before LeBron’s ascension, Vince Carter and Kevin Garnett were the best the league had to offer. Don’t get me wrong, this team was still great and they won the gold. However when looked at in relation to the teams of the past, you can’t help but notice the difference in depth. Despite all of this, the 2000 Team USA gave us the greatest moment in Olympic basketball history with VC clearing 7 foot Fredrick Weis for a fastbreak dunk. Magical.

5. 2016 Team USA

https://www.basketball-reference.com/international/teams/united-states/2016.html

I consider the 2016 NBA season to be the greatest of all time. Someday I’ll write about its emotional impact on me and the way I view sports moving forward. The storyline of that season was on full display in the summer Olympics that followed with 3 Golden State Warriors being selected. To preserve the lifespan of my keyboard, I won’t get into how egregious Harrison Barnes’ inclusion is, but know that I did not support it at the time and will continue to scrutinize every flaw in Harrison’s game until the day his $90m contract expires. That being said, there’s a lot to love about this team in hindsight. Aside from the spontaneous Vanessa Carlton song, this team also showcased the last year of prime Melo in an environment where he’s always thrived. The feel good stories continue with Paul George returning in full form to Team USA after his gruesome leg injury in 2014. I remember this Olympic run with somewhat of rose colored glasses as it was my first opportunity to watch such a team operate. Oh 2016, how we all miss you.

4. 1996 Team USA

https://www.basketball-reference.com/international/teams/united-states/1996.html

1996 is sadly forgotten when discussing the great USA Olympic teams but I understand it. It's sandwiched between the Dream Team and the greatest Olympic moment ever with VC’s dunk. That being said, this team is fantastic. Picking up where we left off 4 years before, ‘96 combines some returning players (Scottie, Robinson, Barkley, Stockton and Malone) as well as some of the emerging stars in the league (Shaq, Reggie, Grant Hill) to make a fun gold medal team that’s unfortunately swept under the rug. What a shame.

3. 2012 Team USA

https://www.basketball-reference.com/international/teams/united-states/2012.html

On paper, this team is far and away the most talented ever. In a fully competitive game, I think 2012 beats any other team on this list. However, I rank it at #3 due to its lack of cultural relevance. The Dream Team was a phenomenon that transcended sports and became part of normal pop culture. The Redeem Team meant so much more to basketball fans and the NBA as a whole than the rest. 2012 was just dominant. If Derrick Rose and Dwight Howard weren’t injured, this team would have reached a godly level that no other assembly of basketball players could aspire to. Imagine 6 legitimate MVP candidates (LeBron, KD, Kobe, CP3, Dwight, D-Rose) playing on the same team. Most of the time there aren’t 6 guys like that in the entire league. If you ever get a chance, go back and watch the gold medal game between USA and Spain, it's worth it.

2. 2008 Redeem Team

https://www.basketball-reference.com/international/teams/united-states/2008.html

First of all, I’m putting the two nicknamed teams at the top for their nicknames alone. Team USA Basketball is supposed to be a showcase for the absolute best players the country has to offer at the given time. It should provide a snapshot of the current state of the league and it’s best talents. I think 2008 does that better than any other team. The entirety of the Banana Boat Crew paired with Kobe makes for a euphoric basketball experience. Additionally, Dwight Howard and Deron Williams’ inclusions are highly underrated moves that solidify this team as legendary. Seeing a Team USA play with a chip on their shoulder is a unique viewing experience that's never been replicated. The whole gimmick of the Redeem Team was to prove to the world that the USA is the premier basketball powerhouse. That point was proven better than anyone could've expected.

1. 1992 Dream Team

https://www.basketball-reference.com/international/teams/united-states/1992.html

What is there to say that hasn’t been said about the Dream Team? Outside of the fact that Scottie should’ve started over Larry, nothing. This team was and is magnificent. What better way to start off the professional era of Olympic basketball than to throw 12 of the most iconic stars in the game’s history on the same squad? It was perfect.

Image Credit: Neil Leifer