With the Summer Olympic Games in Paris complete, the NBA will soon begin its 2024-25 season, so basketball fans won't have to wait to see their favorite superstars back in action. Every four years, NBA players have been called to answer the call for their national team at the Olympic stage since professionals were allowed to compete.
Throughout basketball history, fans have witnessed some of the brightest basketball stars wear the Team USA jersey as they protect the nation's dominance in Olympic basketball just as they did in 2024 by winning Olympic gold. But how do they compare to previous American teams? Here's the 10 most stacked Team USA squads, ranked.
10. 2014 FIBA World Cup
Guards: Stephen Curry, Kyrie Irving, Derrick Rose, Klay Thompson
Forwards: Rudy Gay, DeMar DeRozan, James Harden
Big Men: Anthony Davis, DeMarcus Cousins, Andre Drummond, Mason Plumlee, Kenneth Faried
Official team photo of the USA World Cup Team. #USABMNT #Spain2014 pic.twitter.com/oLOpc3htPR
— USA Basketball (@usabasketball) September 5, 2014
Although the 2014 FIBA World Cup Team USA squad was considered a B-team back in the day, looking at it now, the team was stacked. Although Derrick Rose was past his prime, he was still a MVP. Furthermore, Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Anthony Davis would become future NBA champions.
Curry and James Harden would also become future NBA MVPs with the former becoming the best shooter in the world. It's easy to see why this team went undefeated at the 2014 FIBA World Cup in Spain en route to a gold-medal finish.
9. 2010 FIBA World Championship
Guards: Stephen Curry, Derrick Rose, Russell Westbrook, Chauncey Billups, Eric Gordon
Forwards: Kevin Durant, Andre Iguodala, Lamar Odom, Danny Granger, Rudy Gay
Big men: Tyson Chandler, Kevin Love
A look back at the 2010 Team USA basketball team aka the B team that went into win Gold and had 4 future MVPs in 4 out of the next 7 seasons #usabasketball #fiba pic.twitter.com/m570V0Wacw
— Mute Please (@23_Hundred) September 6, 2019
The 2010 Team USA that played in Turkey was a force to be reckoned with. Although they did lack depth in the frontcourt, the team made up for it with its deep rotation in the guards and wings. Team USA blasted all of its opponents, led by Durant's red-hot shooting with the team securing its first gold medal in the World Cup since 1994.
8. 2016 Summer Olympics
Guards: Kyrie Irving, Kyle Lowry, DeMar DeRozan, Klay Thompson, Paul George
Forwards: Kevin Durant, Carmelo Anthony, Jimmy Butler, Draymond Green, Harrison Barnes
Big Men: DeAndre Jordan, DeMarcus Cousins
This is the 2016 USA basketball team. Only three guys are on the same team they were on when the picture was taken. Look how many of these guys have been on two rosters since then. pic.twitter.com/aEAmWzVLf0
— Andrew Ungvari (@DrewUnga) July 12, 2019
Although the 2016 Rio Olympics faced plenty of obstacles, none bigger than the Zika virus, the summer games still pushed through. In fact, the 2016 Team USA edition even decided to stay on their own ship. Nevertheless, this squad still got the job done as they went undefeated throughout the tournament for a top podium finish.
On paper and during the games, the squad was complete in all areas, offensively and defensively. But even if the team was complete in nearly all aspects, this was when the rest of the world began to catch up with close victories over France and Spain.
7. 2024 Summer Olympics
Guards: Stephen Curry, Anthony Edwards, Tyrese Haliburton, Jrue Holiday, Devin Booker
Forwards: LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard, Jayson Tatum
Big men: Joel Embiid, Anthony Davis, Bam Adebayo
The Stars Align in the City of Light.
🇺🇸 #USABMNT pic.twitter.com/RV1tIGoxXa
— USA Basketball (@usabasketball) April 17, 2024
After a disappointing 2023 FIBA World Cup, Team USA left no stone unturned for the 2024 Paris Olympics. In fact, they enlisting the best basketball players in the world to protect their Olympic dominance.
Spearheaded by LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and Kevin Durant, the team was rounded out by certified All-Stars and other MVP-caliber superstars. But given how much the world has caught up, even this stacked Team USA roster had their hands full in defending the gold and were even forced to make a dramatic comeback against Serbia in the semifinals.
6. 1994 FIBA World Championship
Guards: Reggie Miller, Mark Price, Kevin Johnson, Steve Smith, Joe Dumars
Forwards: Dan Majerle, Dominique Wilkins, Larry Johnson
Big men: Shaquille O'Neal, Derrick Coleman, Alonzo Mourning, Shawn Kemp
Looking back, it is a little confusing. Back in 1994 when USA Basketball wanted to send a new team of pros to the FIBA World Championships, they called that squad ⬇️ "Dream Team II."
Only two of those DTII players were on the '96 Olympic team ("Dream Team III") two years later. pic.twitter.com/F2m0TYd1Fe
— NBA Cobwebs (@NBACobwebs) July 14, 2023
Dubbed as the Dream Team II, Team USA flaunted a stacked roster for the 1994 FIBA World Championships. In the world showcase, the team was led by several Hall of Famers while being rounded out by several All-Stars. With a star-studded cast, Team USA stamped its class and plastered its counterparts by at least 15 points.
5. 2007 FIBA Americas Championship
Guards: Jason Kidd, Chauncey Billups, Deron Williams, Michael Redd, Kobe Bryant, Mike Miller
Forwards: LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Tayshaun Prince
Big Men: Dwight Howard, Amar'e Stoudemire, Tyson Chandler
August 2007: FIBA Americas Championship 🏀🇺🇸🥇
Here's Team USA's lineup
Chauncey Billups
Jason Kidd
LeBron James
Deron Williams
Michael Redd
Tayshaun Prince
Kobe Bryant
Dwight Howard
Amar'e Stoudemire
Mike Miller
Tyson Chandler
Carmelo Anthony pic.twitter.com/JF9g1stwrm— Jose Lorenzo 👑🏀 (@LorenzoMuli) October 10, 2022
Although it wasn't a world competition, Team USA was keen on retaking their dominance internationally. As a result, they decided to field a roster composed of megastars in the FIBA Americas tournament. Team USA was going for overkill.
Nevertheless, it certainly worked as the team dominated rivals in the Americas region. But more importantly, it was the roster that set the winning culture for Team USA moving forward.




4. 1996 Summer Olympics
Guards: Reggie Miller, Anfernee Hardaway, Gary Payton, Mitch Richmond, John Stockton
Forwards: Grant Hill, Scottie Pippen
Big Men: Shaquille O'Neal, Hakeem Olajuwon, Karl Malone, Charles Barkley, David Robinson
ratiod by the 1996 USA basketball team pic.twitter.com/i5GYUqfaOi
— Ce👁#FREESHEFFG (@PercCeoo) September 15, 2020
One of the most dominant editions of Team USA basketball, the 1996 team was basically loaded, especially in the frontcourt. In fact, the team featured a Hall of Fame worthy big man rotation. But more importantly, they were supported by decorated NBA stars.
In fact, the team didn't even need the services of superstar Michael Jordan to keep any team from scoring more than 82 points before clinching the gold medal. It's easy to see why this squad was anointed as Dream Team III.
3. 2012 Summer Olympics
Guards: Kobe Bryant, Chris Paul, Russell Westbrook, Deron Williams, James Harden
Forwards: LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Carmelo Anthony, Andre Iguodala
Big men: Anthony Davis, Tyson Chandler, Kevin Love
The 2012 USA Basketball Team in Montjuic, honouring the Barcelona 1992 Dream Team 20 years later, previous to the London Olympics. The photo above is mine from yesterday:) 🇺🇲🏀🇪🇸 pic.twitter.com/yvdGs5jMDq
— NBA (@RewindBasket) July 6, 2021
Team USA displayed a masterclass at the 2012 Summer Games in London. They defeated everyone with ease except for European powerhouses such as Spain and Lithuania. Nevertheless, Team USA took care of business with another roster composed of megastars. They highlighted their dominance in a record-breaking win at the expense of Nigeria, 156-73.
2. 1992 Summer Olympics
Guards: Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Clyde Drexler, John Stockton
Forwards: Larry Bird, Scottie Pippen, Chris Mullin
Big men: Charles Barkley, Karl Malone, David Robinson, Patrick Ewing, Christian Laettner
On this day in 1992 USA Basketball won gold in Barcelona. Hit the link to take a look back at the greatest basketball team ever assembled.
Details: https://t.co/jHUMvIpIr0 pic.twitter.com/2PZmTCxRiu
— Finish Line (@FinishLine) August 8, 2020
For the first time, the U.S. Olympic basketball team was allowed to field professional ballers at the Summer Games in Barcelona. With the golden opportunity, Team USA brought in the NBA's cream of the crop.
Given the surplus of talent and superstars, it wasn't surprising that Team USA basically blasted all of its opponents. Furthermore, it wasn't surprising that the opponents themselves were starstruck with Team USA's gold-medal run. As a result, this squad was branded as the original Dream Team.
1. 2008 Summer Olympics
Guards: Chris Paul, Dwyane Wade, Jason Kidd, Deron Williams, Kobe Bryant
Forwards: LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Tayshaun Prince, Michael Redd
Big men: Dwight Howard, Chris Bosh, Carlos Boozer
The 2008 US Men's Olympic basketball team aka "The Redeem Team" 🇺🇸
Without Googling, how many NBA players in this photo can you name? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/r0rUbZOQ96
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) August 25, 2023
In the bid to reclaim world basketball dominance, the USA basketball program knew that the best place to start was at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing after a series of international disappointments.
Dubbed as the Redeem Team, Team USA finally played like a true unit, despite the presence of various superstars. Ever since winning the gold medal, Team USA has dominated the Olympic games ever since.