• Dillon Brooks set a new record with 39 points against Team USA in the 2023 FIBA World Cup
- T-8. Jordi Vilacampa – 28 Points
- T-8. Sarunas Jasikevicius – 28 Points
- T-8. Luis Scola – 28 Points
- T-8. Bogdan Bogdanovic – 28 Points
- T-8. Evan Fournier – 28 Points
- T-6. Pau Gasol – 29 Points
- T-6. Manu Ginobili – 29 Points
- 5. Patty Mills – 30 Points
- 4. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander – 31 Points
- 3. Dirk Nowitzki – 34 Points
- 2. Ricky Rubio – 38 Points
- 1. Dillon Brooks – 39 Points
• That is the single-highest scoring output against Team USA in history
• Which players join Brooks atop this prestigious list?
Team USA has long been considered the pinnacle of international basketball competition because of the quality of stars the USA brings. Ever since the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, the entire world has looked forward to what Team USA will do in an international competition.
As the world around them gets up to their speed with basketball, they have some signature performers who are willing to do anything to win. We have seen this over the course of history and will likely see it in the 2024 Olympics as well, which could feature a big trio of LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Stephen Curry leading the squad.
Today, we will look at the greatest international individual performances against Team USA that have shown them that even all their talent can’t stop an elite talent from going off for historic numbers.
T-8. Jordi Vilacampa – 28 Points
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oo99DaOd-y4
The 1994 FIBA World Cup saw a heated contest between Team USA and Spain where Jordi Vilacampa scored 28 points on behalf of the Spanish team in a preliminary round. His performance was in vain, as Team USA walked out 115-100 winners, but this was the greatest individual performance against Team USA up until that point. Vilacampa also pulled down two rebounds and two assists but couldn’t overcome a USA team featuring Reggie Miller, Shaquille O’Neal, Joe Dumars, and more.
T-8. Sarunas Jasikevicius – 28 Points
The 2004 Olympics saw Team USA have a very poor showing, failing to make it to the Gold medal game (more on that later…). One of the early tests the team went through came against Lithuania, who dominated round one and were undefeated They beat Team USA in their fourth game of the World Cup 94-90 with an inspired performance from Saruna Jasikevicius, who scored 28 points with two rebounds and four steals.
T-8. Luis Scola – 28 Points
During the 2008 Redeem Team run in the Olympics, many talented teams went up against the USA to be torn apart. When they rematched, with Argentina to earn revenge for their loss in 2004, they blew them out of the water 81-101. Luis Scola put up a fight, notching 28 points along with 11 rebounds, two steals, and two blocks. It wasn’t a match for the USA with LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, and more, but it was a valiant effort.
T-8. Bogdan Bogdanovic – 28 Points
The 2019 FIBA World Cup saw one of the weakest Team USA lineups in the modern era compete. They came home with a seventh-place finish and were blown away by 2023 Finalists Serbia in the classification games after both teams lost in the quarter-finals. Bogdan Bogdanovic blew Team USA away by scoring 28 points while grabbing four rebounds and dishing six assists. Serbia won the game 94-89, making a bad tournament even worse for Team USA.
T-8. Evan Fournier – 28 Points
Evan Fournier became the hero of one of French basketball’s most famous wins when he led them to a win over Team USA in the 2020 Olympics. In a group stage game, Team USA had already faltered in pre-tournament games and they weren’t prepared for the organized French attack spearheaded by Fournier. He dropped 28 points with four rebounds and two assists. USA would get their revenge in the Gold medal game, but Fournier gave the French fans some early glory.
T-6. Pau Gasol – 29 Points
Pau Gasol is one of the greatest international players of all time and he showed that off early in his career, going up against Team USA in the 2004 Olympics. Even with the weak USA squad, Spain fell to a 102-94 loss against the United States. Gasol dropped 29 points in a balanced performance where he also pulled down six rebounds and blocked two shots. It wasn’t enough to beat the USA, who were led by an inspired 31-point effort from Stephon Marbury. Gasol played for Spain until his retirement in 2021.
T-6. Manu Ginobili – 29 Points
Arguably the most impactful individual performance against any national team in history, Manu Ginobili’s heroics in the 2004 Olympic semi-final against Team USA saw him drop 29 points and end the USA’s quest for another Gold medal. This win led to Argentina advancing to the Finals and winning the Gold medal, sending Team USA to the bronze medal game. Ginobili’s staggering display of his offensive arsenal will outlive him given the impact of this performance on Olympic history.
5. Patty Mills – 30 Points
FIBA Patty Mills is one of the best international players we have seen in modern history. He’s always ready to fight with his country’s badge on his chest, as Mills is Australia’s all-time leading scorer. In a matchup at the 2016 Olympics, Mills scored 30 points to try and help Australia pick up their biggest Olympic victory. It wasn’t to be, as Team USA won the game 98-88, but Mills’ performance is still remembered fondly.
4. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander – 31 Points
One of the two most recent additions to this list, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander showed why he is a future superstar with his performance in the Bronze medal game of the 2023 FIBA World Cup. SGA dropped 31 points, six rebounds, and 12 assists in a 127-118 win in OT for Canada’s biggest basketball moment in history. This is tremendous momentum to carry into the 2024 Olympic Games for Shai and his country.
3. Dirk Nowitzki – 34 Points
The performance that led the charts for individual heroics against Team USA for the longest time was Dirk Nowitzki trying to single-handedly lead Germany to pull off a shock upset against the 2002 FIBA Basketball World Championship favorites in the USA. He dropped 34 points in a group stage matchup which the USA won convincingly with a score of 104-87. Dirk would have his revenge, leading Germany to the bronze whereas Team USA finished in sixth place.
2. Ricky Rubio – 38 Points
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAb2UidAOuE
Team USA looked vulnerable at the start of the 2020 Olympics, suffering some shock pre-tournament losses and a group-stage loss to France. In the quarterfinals, they were going up against the fancied Spanish national team. Ricky Rubio came out to play, dropping a then-high 38 points in an 81-95 loss. The Spanish national team didn’t have enough production around Rubio’s historic game and couldn’t stop the USA from going off with the likes of Kevin Durant, Jayson Tatum, and more.
1. Dillon Brooks – 39 Points
Given everything that happened at the end of the 2022-23 season, who would have thought that Dillon Brooks would hold the record for the most points against Team USA? He dropped 39 points to join his teammate Shai from earlier in a sensational win to clinch the bronze medal over Team USA. His 39 points were accompanied with four rebounds, five assists, two blocks, and one steal, showing incredibly strong defense.
We don’t know if the likes of Luka Doncic or Victor Wembanyama will break this record in future matchups against Team USA, especially at the 2024 Olympics, but we are seeing the rest of the world catch up to the USA in quick order.
Credit: HoopsHype
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