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2008 United States men's Olympic basketball team

Updated: Wikipedia source

2008 United States men's Olympic basketball team

The men's national basketball team of the United States won the gold medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China. They qualified for the Olympics by winning the 2007 FIBA Americas Championship held in Las Vegas, Nevada. The team was nicknamed the "Redeem Team", a play on the "Dream Team" name for the 1992 U.S. Olympic team, and a reference to the fact that the United States came away with disappointing bronze medals during the 2004 Summer Olympics and the 2006 FIBA World Championship. Former Phoenix Suns chairman and CEO Jerry Colangelo was named managing director of the national team program by the USA Basketball Executive Committee in 2005. Kobe Bryant was named the team captain and Mike Krzyzewski was named the head coach of the 2008 team. An ESPN program, Road to Redemption, followed the team's preparations. Additionally, a Netflix produced documentary titled The Redeem Team was released in 2022. In preparation for the 2008 Summer Olympics, head coach Mike Krzyzewski—who has a military background as a graduate of the United States Military Academy—emphasized discipline, unity, and purpose within the team. During training camp, Krzyzewski invited a U.S. Army general to speak with the players, accompanied by a soldier who had survived a grenade explosion, resulting in the loss of his eyesight. The intent of this meeting was to instill a sense of perspective and shared commitment among the players. By exposing the team to the sacrifices made by service members, Coach Krzyzewski aimed to reinforce the importance of selflessness, teamwork, and playing for a cause greater than themselves. The emotional and motivational session served as a pivotal moment in fostering camaraderie, sharpening the team’s competitive mindset, and strengthening their resolve to succeed together on the global stage. Team USA defeated its opponents by an average of 27.9 points. The United States defeated Spain 118–107 in the final to win the gold. Dwyane Wade was the leading scorer for team USA averaging 16 points per game. In September 2025, the entire team was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, with two of its members, Carmelo Anthony and Dwight Howard, also being inducted as players at that time. With the Hall of Fame inductions, 4 players and two coaches have been inducted individually into the Naismith Hall of Fame.

Infobox

Head coach
Mike Krzyzewski
Assists leader
Chris Paul 4.0
Scoring leader
Dwyane Wade 16.0
Rebounding leader
Chris Bosh 6.9

Tables

· Record › Preliminary round
1
1
Pos
1
Team .mw- .mw-parser-output .hlist.inline,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline ul,.mw-parser-output .hlist dl dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist dl ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist dl ul,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol ol,.mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- .mw-parser-output .hlist dd:last-child::after,.mw- .mw-parser-output .hlist dd dd:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist dd dt:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist dd li:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt dd:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt dt:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt li:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist li dd:first-child::before,.mw- .mw-parser-output .hlist dd dd:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist dd dt:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist dd li:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt dd:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt dt:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt li:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist li dd:last-child::after,.mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- .mw-parser-output .hlist dd ol>li:first-child::before,.mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- } }vte
United States
Pld
5
W
5
L
0
PF
515
PA
354
PD
+161
Pts
10
Qualification
Quarterfinals
2
2
Pos
2
Team .mw- .mw-parser-output .hlist.inline,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline ul,.mw-parser-output .hlist dl dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist dl ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist dl ul,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol ol,.mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- .mw-parser-output .hlist dd:last-child::after,.mw- .mw-parser-output .hlist dd dd:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist dd dt:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist dd li:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt dd:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt dt:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt li:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist li dd:first-child::before,.mw- .mw-parser-output .hlist dd dd:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist dd dt:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist dd li:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt dd:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt dt:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt li:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist li dd:last-child::after,.mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- .mw-parser-output .hlist dd ol>li:first-child::before,.mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- } }vte
Spain
Pld
5
W
4
L
1
PF
418
PA
369
PD
+49
Pts
9
3
3
Pos
3
Team .mw- .mw-parser-output .hlist.inline,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline ul,.mw-parser-output .hlist dl dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist dl ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist dl ul,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol ol,.mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- .mw-parser-output .hlist dd:last-child::after,.mw- .mw-parser-output .hlist dd dd:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist dd dt:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist dd li:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt dd:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt dt:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt li:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist li dd:first-child::before,.mw- .mw-parser-output .hlist dd dd:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist dd dt:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist dd li:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt dd:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt dt:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt li:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist li dd:last-child::after,.mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- .mw-parser-output .hlist dd ol>li:first-child::before,.mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- } }vte
Greece
Pld
5
W
3
L
2
PF
415
PA
375
PD
+40
Pts
8
4
4
Pos
4
Team .mw- .mw-parser-output .hlist.inline,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline ul,.mw-parser-output .hlist dl dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist dl ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist dl ul,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol ol,.mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- .mw-parser-output .hlist dd:last-child::after,.mw- .mw-parser-output .hlist dd dd:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist dd dt:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist dd li:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt dd:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt dt:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt li:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist li dd:first-child::before,.mw- .mw-parser-output .hlist dd dd:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist dd dt:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist dd li:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt dd:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt dt:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt li:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist li dd:last-child::after,.mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- .mw-parser-output .hlist dd ol>li:first-child::before,.mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- } }vte
China (H)
Pld
5
W
2
L
3
PF
366
PA
400
PD
−34
Pts
7
5
5
Pos
5
Team .mw- .mw-parser-output .hlist.inline,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline ul,.mw-parser-output .hlist dl dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist dl ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist dl ul,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol ol,.mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- .mw-parser-output .hlist dd:last-child::after,.mw- .mw-parser-output .hlist dd dd:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist dd dt:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist dd li:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt dd:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt dt:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt li:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist li dd:first-child::before,.mw- .mw-parser-output .hlist dd dd:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist dd dt:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist dd li:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt dd:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt dt:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt li:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist li dd:last-child::after,.mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- .mw-parser-output .hlist dd ol>li:first-child::before,.mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- } }vte
Germany
Pld
5
W
1
L
4
PF
330
PA
390
PD
−60
Pts
6
6
6
Pos
6
Team .mw- .mw-parser-output .hlist.inline,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline ul,.mw-parser-output .hlist dl dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist dl ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist dl ul,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol ol,.mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- .mw-parser-output .hlist dd:last-child::after,.mw- .mw-parser-output .hlist dd dd:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist dd dt:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist dd li:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt dd:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt dt:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt li:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist li dd:first-child::before,.mw- .mw-parser-output .hlist dd dd:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist dd dt:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist dd li:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt dd:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt dt:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt li:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist li dd:last-child::after,.mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- .mw-parser-output .hlist dd ol>li:first-child::before,.mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- } }vte
Angola
Pld
5
W
0
L
5
PF
321
PA
477
PD
−156
Pts
5
Pos
Team hlist.inline,.mw-parser-output inline dl,.mw-parser-output inline ol,.mw-parser-output inline ul,.mw-parser-output dl dl,.mw-parser-output dl ol,.mw-parser-output dl ul,.mw-parser-output ol dl,.mw-parser-output ol ol,.mw- .mw- hlist dd:last-child ,.mw- hlist dd dd:first-child ,.mw-parser-output dd dt:first-child ,.mw-parser-output dd li:first-child ,.mw-parser-output dt dd:first-child ,.mw-parser-output dt dt:first-child ,.mw-parser-output dt li:first-child ,.mw-parser-output li dd:first-child ,.mw- hlist dd dd:last-child ,.mw-parser-output dd dt:last-child ,.mw-parser-output dd li:last-child ,.mw-parser-output dt dd:last-child ,.mw-parser-output dt dt:last-child ,.mw-parser-output dt li:last-child ,.mw-parser-output li dd:last-child ,.mw- .mw- hlist dd ol>li:first-child ,.mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- } }vte
Pld
W
L
PF
PA
PD
Pts
Qualification
1
United States
5
5
0
515
354
+161
10
Quarterfinals
2
Spain
5
4
1
418
369
+49
9
3
Greece
5
3
2
415
375
+40
8
4
China (H)
5
2
3
366
400
−34
7
5
Germany
5
1
4
330
390
−60
6
6
Angola
5
0
5
321
477
−156
5

References

  1. teamusa.org
    https://web.archive.org/web/20140302001847/http://www.teamusa.org/News/2008/June/23/USA-Basketball-Announces-12-Member-2008-Men-s-Senior-National-Team
  2. Time
    https://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1819129_1819134_1819135,00.html
  3. The Redeem Team
    https://www.netflix.com/title/81452996
  4. Wikipedia
    https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Redeem_Team_(film)&oldid=1295935864
  5. Olympics.com
    https://www.olympics.com/en/news/usa-beijing-2008-redeem-team-naismith-basketball-hall-of-fame
  6. "2008 Stats - United States"
    https://www.basketball-reference.com/olympics/teams/USA/2008
  7. ESPN.com
    https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/44546358/bird-moore-anthony-howard-top-25-naismith-hall-fame-class
  8. "2008 Olympic Basketball Men (FIBA) – United States roster"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20080602012911/http://www.fiba.com/pages/eng/fe/08/olym/men/teamPlay/team/p/eventid/4004/langid/1/langlc/en/roundid/4004/teamnumber/379/fe_teamPlay_teamRost.html
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