Basketball athletes hung their ring in the Olympic Games in Berlin, Germany in 1936. Though 23 nations entered the competition, North America took away all the gold medals. The game was actually played outside on lawn courts, probably as an experiment as opposed to indoor wood floor play, but because of foul weather conditions, it was deemed inappropriate for future games.
The very first gold metal winners, almost exclusively from the USA are as follows:
- Sam Balter
- Ralph Bishop
- Joe Fortenberry
- Tex Gibbons
- Francis Johnson
- Carl Knowles
- Frank Lubin
- Art Mollner
- Donald Piper
- Jack Ragland
- Willard Schmidt
- Carl Shy
- Duane Swanson
- Bill Wheatley (Canada)
In 1972 the USA team did not take away gold, losing to the Soviet Union. Controversy and overtime decisions clouded the win, causing the USA team to refuse the silver medal which still is being held by the Olympic Committee. Later, in 1976, the USA reclaimed their gold over the team.
As is the rule that only amateurs can compete in any Olympic Games competition, in 1989 the Committee deemed it acceptable for professional NBA players to enter the competition in Olympic basketball teams. In 1990, “The Dream Team” debuted taking the gold, once again for the USA. Players included such great names as:
- Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen of the Chicago Bulls
- John Stockton and Karl Malone of the Utah Jazz
- Magic Johnson of the Los Angeles Lakers
- Larry Bird of the Boston Celtics
- Patrick Ewing of the New York Knicks
- Chris Mullin of the Golden State Warriors
- David Robinson of the San Antonio Spurs
- Charles Barkley of the Philadelphia 76ers
Women’s basketball entered the competitions in 1976. The USA Women’s Basketball Team going to the Olympics was made up of the following women athletes:
- Swin Cash
- Tina Charles
- Brittney Griner
- Ashja Jones
- Renee Montgomery
- Cappie Pondexter
Over time, the top Gold Medal winners are as follows:
- Teresa Edwards
- Lisa Leslie
- Gennadi Volnov
- Katie Smith
- Dawn Staley
- Sheryl Swoops
With the advent of women teams joining the men’s teams, WBA players have joined the ranks as well, and are welcome competitors!