Ranking the Best USA Men's Basketball Teams

Guards: Allen Iverson, Stephon Marbury, Richard Jefferson, Dwyane Wade

Forwards: Carlos Boozer, Carmelo Anthony, Lebron James, Shawn Marion, Lamar Odom

Centers: Tim Duncan, Amar’e Stoudemire, Emeka Okafor 

There is no question that the 2004 team had the most disappointing ending of any USA basketball team. The biggest problem the 2004 squad ran into was they were too young. Lebron, Melo, and Wade were all coming off their rookie years and were not established yet as dominant players in the NBA. Because of this the team had to rely heavily on guys like Richard Jefferson and Carlos Boozer to carry the team, which ended badly. 2004 saw the first time since 1988 that the USA didn’t finish with gold in basketball and this is a team that people will be quick to forget. 

Guards: Damian Lillard, Devin Booker, Zach Lavine, Jrue Holiday 

Forwards: Kevin Durant, Jayson Tatum, Khris Middleton, Draymond Green, Jerami Grant, Keldon Johnson 

Centers: Bam Adebayo, JaVale Mcgee 

This year's USA basketball roster has some of the game's top players, but unfortunately is missing out on the biggest stars like Lebron James, Steph Curry, and James Harden. With a loss in the round-robin games to France, there is nothing this team can really do to move in front of the next six teams on this list. It’s very apparent the world is catching up in terms of basketball talent so team USA has a tall task ahead of them.

Guards: Kyle Lowry, Jimmy Butler, Kyrie Irving, Klay Thompson, Demar Derozan

Forwards: Kevin Durant, Paul George, Carmelo Anthony, Draymond Green, Harrison Barnes 

Centers: Demarcus Cousins, DeAndre Jordan 

The 2016 Rio games in my mind can be remembered as the Carmelo Anthony Olympic games. Melo finished these Olympics walking away as team USA’s all-time scorer and most gold medals at three. This team can be remembered for having great chemistry on and off the court, and it showed as they dominated throughout the games. There are a ton of clips I could choose to highlight this team like Derozan going for a 360-dunk in a blowout game, but instead checkout the gem above.

Guards: Ray Allen, Vince Carter, Jason Kidd, Tim Hardaway, Allan Houston, Gary Payton, Steve Smith 

Forwards: Kevin Garnett, Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Vin Baker, Antonio McDyess

Center: Alonzo Mourning 

This 2000 Olympic team is one that was highlighted with high-flyers like Vince Carter and defensive monsters like Kevin Garnett. There was really no chance for the field in these Olympic games as team USA went undefeated in eight games. The highlight of these games was watching Vince Carter literally dunk someone into retirement and what is probably his nastiest dunk ever. 

Guards: Penny Hardaway, Reggie Miller, Mitch Richmond, Gary Payton, John Stockton

Forwards: Charles Barkley, Grant Hill, Karl Malone, Scottie Pippen 

Center: Shaquille O’Neal, Hakeem Olajuwon, David Robinson 

The 1996 Olympic games showcased the second USA squad to be stacked with NBA players. One of the most fascinating things I discovered while researching this list was to find Hakeem Olajuwon on the United States team. He was left off the 1992 Dream Team squad because he didn’t become a US citizen until 1993. This team’s biggest strength over other USA squads is 

the height. This team is by far the strongest at the five positions and quite frankly if I saw this team on the court I'd run in the other direction.

Guards: Kobe Bryant, Chris Paul, James Harden, Russell Westbrook, Deron Williams

Forwards: Lebron James, Kevin Durant, Carmelo Anthony, Andre Iguodala

Centers: Tyson Chandler, Kevin Love, Anthony Davis 

The 2012 USA basketball squad has a very special place in my heart because as a very impressionable thirteen-year-old this team made me fall in love with basketball (It was also my Bar Mitzvah theme, Justin’s Dream Team is the best Bar Mitzvah theme ever). Highlighted with all-time greats like Kobe Bryant, Lebron James, and Kevin Durant this team was a once-in-a lifetime honor to get to watch. The gold medal game did prove to be tight as USA only won 97 to 90 against Spain. 

Guards: Kobe Bryant, Dwyane Wade, Chris Paul, Jason Kidd, Deron Williams, Michael Redd 

Forwards: Lebron James, Carmelo Anthony, Tayshaun Prince, Carlos Boozer

Centers: Dwight Howard, Chris Bosh 

The 2008 USA Olympic team donned the name “the redeem team” because this would be the first squad to represent the USA since their loss to Argentina in the 2004 Olympics. The 2008 team would win every game by 19 points or more and played with a sense of pride and determination that we don’t see today from USA basketball. The catalyst for this was the team captain Kobe Bryant. He was not on the 2004 squad that lost but it seemed like he took it personally. An all-time great moment from these Olympics was watching Kobe talk trash to Luis Scola in Spanish.

Guards: Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Clyde Drexler, John Stockton

Forwards: Larry Bird, Charles Barkley, Karl Malone, Chris Mullins, Scottie Pippen, Christian Laettner 

Centers: David Robinson, Patrick Ewing 

There is no question when ranking USA Olympic teams who sit atop the list and that is the 1992 dream team. This was the first USA team to be headlined with NBA stars and it was one for the ages. You had the best of the 80’s in Magic and Larry, and the most dominant basketball player 

in the history of the sport in Michael Jordan. There are so many amazing stories and games that came out of these Olympics that I could leave you with but this is by far my favorite and the story goes like this. After a lackluster performance against France, Coach Chuck Daly felt the need to pump some energy into his team. Magic Johnson was once the top dog in the NBA, but those days were behind him. Not being ready to relinquish the title of ‘best in the world’ Magic took half of the 92’ team and Michael got the other. What ensued was the greatest game of basketball ever played. If you haven’t watched the Dream Team documentary I highly recommend it as it is one of the best pieces of basketball content ever created.