Team USA has gotten off to a 2-0 start in exhibition play after cruising past Australia 102-86 on Thursday. Yet their record is all the more impressive when it encompasses the scope of the years, now riding a 78-game win streak in major international competitions (including friendlies) since getting a bronze medal at the 2006 World Cup in Japan, according to the NBA.

USA Basketball took its last loss in the semifinal against Greece (101-95), later beating Argentina for third place to begin what's now the country's biggest streak. Here is how Team USA has done since claiming the bronze in Japan 13 years ago:

  • 2007 FIBA Americas Tournament: 10-0
  • 2008 Beijing Olympics: 8-0
  • 2010 FIBA World Cup: 9-0
  • 2012 London Olympics: 8-0
  • 2014 FIBA World Cup: 9-0
  • 2016 Rio Olympics: 8-0
  • 2017 FIBA AmeriCup: 5-0

All these plus 20 more wins coming from international friendlies have put the USA under enormous pressure as the overwhelming favorite in the eyes of the world, even after the recent wave of dropouts in the wake of a FIBA scheduling change and a caustic free agency that caused more than 200 NBA players to switch teams.

USA Basketball could reach 80 straight wins if this team can get past Australia once again on Saturday and then past Canada on Monday before traveling to China for the start of the 2019 FIBA World Cup. Right before they take the floor against the Czech Republic on Sept. 1, it would be exactly 13 years since the United States was last defeated in a major international competition.