USA Basketball Team’s Results At The FIBA World Cup Throughout History

• USA Basketball Team has not won a gold medal at the FIBA World Cup since 2014

• USA Basketball Team won their first gold medal at the FIBA World Cup in 1954

• USA Basketball Team has won a total of five gold medals, three silver medals, and four bronze medals in FIBA World Cup play

On August 25, the 19th installment of the FIBA World Cup is set to kick off in the Philippines, Japan, and Indonesia. It will be the first time in the tournament’s history that it will be held across multiple nations. Seeking revenge for their 2019 seventh-place finish, USA Basketball Team heads into the tournament with a massive chip on their shoulders.

Team USA has participated in every FIBA World Cup since 1950 and has gone home with a medal in 12 out of 19 tournaments. Their most recent gold medal win came in 2014 in Spain, but their finish in 2019 is what has haunted them for the last four years. This year, they will be sending a young and inexperienced squad in regards to international play, but the group is loaded with All-Star talent led by players such as Anthony Edwards, Jalen Brunson, and Austin Reaves.

Today, as we get ready for the tournament in just a few short weeks, we will go tournament by tournament to discuss the different finishes and outcomes in USA Basketball Team history as it pertains to the FIBA World Cup only. From the highest of highs to the lowest of lows as a team, Team USA has weathered the storm to become one of the best basketball nations in the world over the last 73 years.

This is the history of Team USA in the FIBA World Cup from 1950 through the present day.

1950 FIBA World Cup

Champion: Argentina

USA Basketball Team: Silver Medal

The first FIBA World Cup tournament took place in 1950 in the country of Argentina. It featured only 10 nations at the time due to the aftermath of World War II. Team USA, who had finished in the top three in the previous Olympic Games, would be automatically designated to the second round where they would face Chile and defeat them by four by a score of 37-33.

With wins over Brazil and Egypt in the following two matches, Team USA would find themselves matched up with home country and tournament favorite Argentina in the championship game. Team USA was no match for Argentina at this time as they would lose the championship match in blowout fashion, 64-50. Team USA would be led by Bryce Heffley and John Stanich who averaged 7.7 points and 7.2 points per game respectively. Stanich would be named to the All-Tournament Team but surely would have traded the honor for a gold medal as he never played in international competition again.

1954 FIBA World Cup

Champion: United States Of America

USA Basketball Team: Gold Medal

The 1954 installment of the FIBA World Cup would be held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and feature 13 nations placed into four groups for the first time. Team USA would be in Group B with Canada and Peru. In their two games in the group stage, Team USA would defeat their opponents by a combined 44 points led by James Kirby Minter and his 11.1 points per game.

As the tournament continued, it became clear who the favorite was as Team USA destroyed every nation put in front of them in the tournament. In the championship, they would once again face the hosting country for the gold medal. Solomon Edward and Bertram Born Jr. would lead the Americans with 14 and 12 points, respectively as Team USA destroyed Brazil by a score of 62-41. Kirby Minter would be honored with an All-Tournament Team selection as Team USA captured their first of five gold medals at the FIBA World Cup.

1959 FIBA World Cup

Champion: Brazil

USA Basketball Team: Silver Medal

The third FIBA World Cup tournament would be held in various cities all over the nation of Chile featuring three groups of four teams. Team USA would be placed in Group A along with Argentina, Formosa, and the United Arab Emirates. Team USA would defeat all three opponents during their group-stage matchups and head toward the next rounds. Despite a loss to the Soviet Union, Team USA would qualify for a 1954 rematch in the championship against Brazil.

For Team USA, this is where their tournament would end with an 81-67 loss in their final matchup against Brazil. No Americans would be named to the All-Tournament Team this time around, but they did end up walking away with a medal for the third consecutive World Cup. Team USA would be led by a trio of scorers who averaged double-digits in tournament play. Gerome Vayda would lead the way with 18.0 points per game, while Richard Walsh added 16.4 points and Robert Hodges added 12.1 points per game.

1963 FIBA World Cup

Champion: Brazil

USA Basketball Team: 4th Place

The 1963 installment of the FIBA World Cup would be a historic one for the United States, but not in a good way. The tournament would be held in Brazil for the second time after FIBA suspended the Philippines for not allowing Yugoslavian and Soviet Union members into their country. As a defending champion and previous host, Brazil was given the distinction of hosting once again. As for Team USA, they were led by Jerry Shipp and a man by the name of Willys Reed, not to be confused with New York Knicks legend Willis Reed.

Team USA would win their first three group matchups in rather convincing fashion as they headed into the next rounds. They would suffer a two-point loss to Yugoslavia 75-73 and a one-point nail-biter to the Soviet Union 75-74. In their final matchup, they would suffer defeat at the hands of the host nation Brazil 85-81 ending their chances at a medal for the first time in the nation’s history at the FIBA World Cup. Jerry Shipp would lead all scorers for Team USA with 16.3 points per game for the tournament but only Don Kojis would make the All-Tournament Team with his 13.3 points per game.

1967 FIBA World Cup

Champion: Soviet Union

USA Basketball Team: 4th Place

For the second straight FIBA World Cup, Team USA would be disappointed with their finish, failing to medal once again. This time, the tournament would be held in Uruguay and feature 13 teams again in four different groups. Team USA would be placed in Group A with Mexico, Yugoslavia, and Italy. Team USA would win each of their first three group matchups and head toward the next rounds with some momentum.

What followed was wins over Uruguay, the Soviet Union, and Argentina. Then, Team USA would suffer a setback in a one-point loss to Yugoslavia 73-72, which hurt their chances at a medal in a big way. Still, they managed to earn a trip to the semi-finals where they faced off once again with their nemesis Brazil once again. Similar to 1963, Team USA would be defeated 80-71 and eliminated from medal contention by Brazil, who went on to win the tournament for the second straight time. Team USA would be led by Darrell Carrier and his 11.3 points per game but failed to have any team member earn All-Tournament Team honors.

1970 FIBA World Cup

Champion: The Soviet Union

USA Basketball Team: 4th Place

As Team USA headed into their fifth FIBA World Cup, the team was desperate to finally bring home a medal for the first time since 1954. Unfortunately for them, that would not be the case in 1970. Team USA would blow through their competition in Group A with three convincing wins followed by three more consecutive wins in the following rounds. This is where the wheels would fall off.

Team USA would suffer three straight losses, including a shocking defeat at the hands of Italy and a third loss to Brazil in an elimination game to end their chances at a medal for the fourth consecutive tournament. The Soviet Union would go on to win the tournament as Team USA was once again left in shambles. The leaders for Team USA included Kenny Washington who led all scorers for his team with 11.8 points per game. Michael Silliman also added 11.7 points per game as well. Washington would earn All-Tournament Team honors for Team USA but it paled in comparison to the pain felt by failing to bring home a medal for his country.

1974 FIBA World Cup

Champion: The Soviet Union

USA Basketball Team: Bronze Medal

For the 1974 FIBA World Cup, Team USA headed into Puerto Rico looking to get the proverbial monkey off their backs and bring home a medal for their country. Things started off perfectly with Team USA destroying the Philippines, Spain, and Argentina in their first three games of the group stage. They would then rattle off five more wins in a row before facing off with the Soviet Union in the Gold Medal game.

Unfortunately for Team USA, they would fall flat in their game against the Soviets, losing by a score of 105-94. Due to the points system instilled by FIBA, the loss dropped them to third in the standings and they would go home with a bronze medal. Team USA’s first medal since 1954 came with the leadership of John Lucas and Ticky Burden, who both averaged 20.2 points per game for the tournament. Despite being the sixth and seventh-highest scorers in the tournament overall, neither player made the All-Tournament Team but they were going home with a medal which was the first step toward the global dominance they sought on the basketball court.

1978 FIBA World Cup

Champion: Yugoslavia

USA Basketball Team: 5th Place

After medaling in 1974, Team USA looked to the 1978 tournament being held in the Philippines as their chance for a silver or gold medal once again. In the group stage, Team USA once again looked dominant as they won three straight games over Australia, Dominican Republic, and Czechoslovakia. In their fourth matchup, Team USA would suffer a stunning one-point loss to Italy, dealing a devastating blow to their chase for gold.

They would still have a chance as they took the court against Yugoslavia in their next contest but would once again fall flat and lose 100-93. This ended all hopes for a medal for Team USA, as did another loss to Brazil just two days later. Team USA would win their fifth-place playoff against Canada 96-94, which, although a win, still cemented their worst finish in FIBA World Cup history to that point in fifth place. Urvin Kiffin and Tim Hall were Team USA’s brightest stars averaging 13.2 points and 12.2 points, respectively but neither man was good enough to lead their country to a medal when this was supposed to be the year they came out back on top.

1982 FIBA World Cup

Champion: The Soviet Union

USA Basketball Team: Silver Medal

The 1982 World Cup would be the first time in Team USA history that we managed to see some recognizable names as far as future NBA talent goes. The team’s best player would be Glenn “Doc” Rivers as he led the Americans with 16.8 points per game the entire tournament and was a big reason Team USA was able to escape the group and preliminary rounds. They would, however, suffer their first loss of the tournament in the group stage against Spain, which hurt but didn’t end their hopes of gold.

After their loss to Spain, Team USA would win five consecutive games, earning them at least a silver medal and a spot in the championship against the Soviet Union. In controversial fashion, Team USA would lose by one and have to settle for a silver medal. It was their highest finish in the tournament since 1959, when they had last won silver. Doc Rivers would make the All-Tournament Team as the leader of the group that got Team USA back on track at the international level.

1986 FIBA World Cup

Champion: United States Of America

USA Basketball Team: Gold Medal

Led by an incredible amount of future NBA talent, Team USA was not messing around when it came to the 1986 FIBA World Cup. Players such as David Robinson, Muggsy Bogues, Steve Kerr, and Kenny Smith took the court for Team USA as they made their way to Spain for the tournament. Team USA got off to another hot start in 1986 with three blowout wins in the group stage led by Charles Smith’s 15.3 points per game and Kenny Smith’s 14.7 points per game.

Team USA would only lose one contest the rest of the way, a four-point loss to Argentina 74-70 that could have spelled disaster for Team USA, but this time, they were resilient. After earning a trip to the championship round, Team USA met a familiar opponent in the Soviet Union. Behind 23 points from Kenny Smith and 20 points from David Robinson, Team USA would finally reach the top of the mountain once again to claim their second-ever gold medal. Despite their win, Drazen Petrovic would receive MVP honors for the tournament over both Smiths and David Robinson.

1990 FIBA World Cup

Champion: Yugoslavia

USA Basketball Team: Bronze Medal

The 1990 Team USA squad would once again feature a load of future NBA talent ready to defend their 1986 gold medal. Kenny Anderson, Christian Laetnner, and Alonzo Mourning led the way for Team USA as they embarked on the 11th World Cup being held in Argentina. As per usual, the United States ran through their group stage competition unscathed with a 3-0 record on to the next round.

They would then win back-to-back games over Argentina and Australia before running into their first roadblock. They would suffer back-to-back losses to Puerto Rico 81-79 and Yugoslavia 99-91, preventing them from the possibility of repeating as gold medalists. They would take home the bronze medal after defeating Puerto Rico for that honor. The team was led by Kenny Anderson’s 18.8 points and Alonzo Mourning’s 16.3 points per game as they didn’t get the result they wanted but they did earn yet another medal for their performance.

1994 FIBA World Cup

Champion: United States Of America

USA Basketball Team: Gold Medal

The 1994 FIBA World Cup would feature a lineup of completely NBA players for the first time in tournament history for Team USA. The group was headlined by Shaquille O’Neal, Reggie Miller, and Dominique Wilkins, with other stars such as Shawn Kemp, Alonzo Mourning, Joe Dumars, and Kevin Johnson rounding out the roster. The addition of NBA players made this an unfair tournament for the rest of the field as Team USA flew through the group stage with wins all by at least 15 points.

The rest of the tournament went the same way, as Team USA could not be stopped with their team of All-Star talent. Shaquille O’Neal’s 18.0 points per game and Reggie Miller’s 17.1 points per game led the way for Team USA to capture gold once again with a 137-91 drubbing of Russia in the gold medal game. Shaquille O’Neal would win MVP honors for the tournament as the first player in Team USA history to win the award for his outstanding play in the tournament.

1998 FIBA World Cup

Champion: Federal Republic Of Yugoslavia

USA Basketball Team: Bronze Medal

When Team USA traveled to Greece for the 1998 World Cup, the roster had a completely different look to it. Instead of a roster full of NBA talent, Brad Miller of the Sacramento Kings would be the lone representative for them this time around. The rest of the roster was filled with players from the NCAA such as Trajan Langdon and Jimmy Oliver. The lack of NBA talent and star power on Team USA left them unable to hang with the powerhouses from the rest of the world, but they made out okay in the end.

Team USA would drop one of their group stage games to Lithuania 84-82 in surprising fashion, putting their backs against the wall for the rest of the tournament. In the end, that loss haunted Team USA as they had to settle for a bronze medal game victory over Greece 84-61. Jimmy Oliver and Wendell Alexis would be the only members of Team USA worth mentioning as scorers with both players averaging over 11.0 points per game for the tournament.

2002 FIBA World Cup

Champion: Federal Republic Of Yugoslavia

USA Basketball Team: 6th Place

The 2002 showing by Team USA in the FIBA World Cup is perhaps one of the most embarrassing performances by them on an international stage. The NBA stars had returned for Team USA as well, headlined by Jason Williams, Paul Pierce, Jermaine O’Neal, Baron Davis, and others. The tournament would also be held on United States soil for the first time which was supposed to energize the squad all the way to a gold. It would not transpire that way.

After winning their first five games in a row, Team USA would suffer back-to-back defeats at the hands of Argentina in the group stage 87-80 and Yugoslavia in the quarterfinal 81-78. With the two losses, the team was taken out of medal contention for the first time since 1978. If that wasn’t bad enough, Team USA had a chance to save some dignity with one final matchup against Spain for fifth place. However, even then, the United States did not show up and fell 81-75, capping off an already horrendous showing with an embarrassing defeat. This performance was so bad and so devastating the leaders of the team, stat-wise, will not even get a mention.

2006 FIBA World Cup

Champion: Spain

USA Basketball Team: Bronze Medal

I still have no idea how the 2006 Team USA dropped the ball as badly as they did, but it happened and it still hurts. The 2006 Team USA squad was loaded with talent, including three of the best players in the world at the time, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Carmelo Anthony. Carmelo would be the team’s leading scorer with 179 total points through the entirety of the tournament, while Wade and James finished slightly behind him.

Team USA would get off to a hot start with seven straight wins and looked ready to re-capture the gold medal. In the semifinals, however, Team USA would suffer an embarrassing defeat at the hands of Greece 101-95, which dashed their hopes of being crowned world champions. In the bronze medal game, Team USA would defeat Argentina 96-81 to save their competition from complete disaster. Even with the medal, nobody was elated, considering the trio of James, Wade, and Anthony had just failed in front of the entire world.

2010 FIBA World Cup

Champion: United States Of America

USA Basketball Team: Gold Medal

In 2010, Team USA sought revenge for their dud in 2006, but this time, with a new roster of incredible NBA talent to take the torch. Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and even a young Stephen Curry joined Team USA for the 2010 FIBA World Cup in Turkey. This time around, things would be different, much different behind Durant’s torrid scoring of 22.8 points per game and the leadership of veterans such as Chauncey Billups.

Team USA would not relinquish one single game during the tournament, going a perfect 10-0 and demolishing the competition. After nine games, Team USA was set to meet host country Turkey for the gold. Team USA would take this matchup by a score of 81-64 behind 28 points from Kevin Durant and 15 points from Lamar Odom. Durant would be named the MVP of the tournament and earn All-Tournament Team honors as well and Team USA had redeemed their loss from 2006.

2014 FIBA World Cup

Champion: United States Of America

USA Basketball Team: Gold Medal

The 2014 Team USA World Cup Team would have a little bit of a different look but end up with the same results as 2010. This time, the team added the likes of Anthony Davis, James Harden, Kyrie Irving, and others to their roster, which made for extremely exciting basketball. The competition for Team USA was pretty much non-existent as their well-rounded roster proved to be far too much for any collection of international players to deal with.

Team USA was so dominant that they won every contest by a minimum of 20 points. In the gold medal game, they were set to take on a tough but young Serbian team that was supposed to give them a challenge. Well, behind 26 points from Kyrie Irving and 23 points from James Harden, Team USA would secure gold by defeating Serbia 129-92. Irving would be named the tournament’s MVP and earned All-Tournament Team honors. James Harden would be the team’s leading scorer overall as well, with 14.2 points per game, followed by Klay Thompson’s 12.7 points per game.

2019 FIBA World Cup

Champion: Spain

USA Basketball Team: 7th Place

After back-to-back gold medals, Team USA was riding high heading into the 2019 World Cup hosted by China. Team USA would feature an entirely new roster from their 2014 team headlined by Donovan Mitchell and Jayson Tatum. Unfortunately for Team USA, the 2019 World Cup would not only end before the gold medal game, it would end with their worst finish in the competition’s 73-year history.

The tournament started off great with Team USA capturing five wins in their first five games. What came next would be when Team USA completely fell apart. They would drop both of their next games to France and Serbia, dropping them to seventh place even after defeating Poland in their final matchup of the tournament. Team USA was left in utter despair after such an abysmal showing, but it may just set up for a great revenge story in 2023.

2023 FIBA World Cup

Champion: N/A

USA Basketball Team: N/A

The 2023 FIBA World Cup is set to kick off on August 25, with exhibition matches underway at this current time. Team USA will bring in a fresh roster of young stars who are ready to return Team USA to glory. In order to do that, they will need to navigate tough opponents such as France, Spain, and even Canada. Currently, Team USA is ranked second in FIBA’s rankings heading into the tournament, sitting behind only France for the top spot.

Now, the USA should medal, but let’s remember this team is extremely young and inexperienced when it comes to international play. The team is headlined by the likes of Anthony Edwards, Jalen Brunson, Brandon Ingram, and Austin Reaves. They have already defeated Puerto Rico by a score of 117-74 in their opening exhibition and are set to take on Slovenia, led by star guard Luka Doncic this Saturday. Team USA will have their work cut out for them this upcoming FIBA World Cup, but I do expect a bronze medal at least, but why not go for gold, right?

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