Andrew Pace
The US men's national basketball team, nicknamed the Redeem Team, won the gold medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China. They defeated Spain 118-107 in the final, with Dwyane Wade, the team's leading scorer, averaging 16 points per game. The victory marked the team's return to the top after disappointing results in the 2004 Athens Games and the 2006 FIBA World Championship, where they took home bronze medals. The 2008 win was the first of five consecutive Olympic gold medals for the US men's basketball team, with subsequent wins in 2012, 2016, 2020, and 2024.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year | 2008 |
| Medal | Gold |
| Opponent | Spain |
| Final Score | 118-107 |
| Leading Scorer | Dwyane Wade |
| Average Points per Game | 16 |
| Team Nickname | "Redeem Team" |
| Captain | Kobe Bryant |
| Head Coach | Mike Krzyzewski |
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What You'll Learn
The US men's basketball team won gold
The team was nicknamed the "Redeem Team", a playful reference to the "`Dream Team`" of the 1992 US Olympic team. It also alluded to the disappointing bronze medals the US had won in the 2004 Summer Olympics and the 2006 FIBA World Championship. Determined to improve, USA Basketball initiated a long-term project to create better, more cohesive teams.
The 2008 team was led by captain Kobe Bryant and head coach Mike Krzyzewski. They faced a challenging start in the gold medal game, with Spain taking an early lead. However, a 10-0 run by LeBron James and Dwyane Wade kept the US in the game. The lead changed hands several times throughout the match, with Spain cutting the deficit to just two points in the fourth quarter. Crucial three-pointers by Kobe Bryant and Dwyane Wade extended the US lead, but Spain fought back, reducing the deficit to just four points with two minutes remaining. In the final minutes, Dwyane Wade's three-pointer and a Kobe Bryant field goal sealed the deal, extending the lead to nine points.
The game is widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball matches ever played. It marked a significant moment for the US men's basketball team, who had faced setbacks in previous years, but the 2008 Olympics saw them return to the top of the podium, reclaiming their position as one of the most dominant forces in international basketball.
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They beat Spain 118-107 in the final
The US men's basketball team, nicknamed the "Redeem Team", won the gold medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China. They beat Spain 118-107 in the final, in what is widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball games ever played.
The US team was determined to put an end to recent disappointments, such as the bronze medal wins at the 2004 Olympics and the 2006 FIBA World Championship. They qualified for the 2008 Olympics by winning the 2007 FIBA Americas Championship held in Las Vegas, Nevada. The team was led by captain Kobe Bryant and head coach Mike Krzyzewski.
The final against Spain was a close and exciting game. The Americans got off to a slow start, with the Spaniards hitting seven of their first nine shots. A 10-0 run by LeBron James and Dwyane Wade kept the US in the game in the first quarter. In the second quarter, Spain cut the deficit to eight points, and in the third, they reduced it further to seven. A three-point field goal by Rudy Fernández made it a two-point game with 8:13 left in the fourth quarter. However, the US responded with three-pointers from Kobe Bryant and Dwyane Wade to extend their lead to 103-92. Spain fought back and reduced the deficit to 108-104, but in the final two minutes, a three-pointer by Dwyane Wade and a Kobe Bryant field goal sealed the win for the US.
Dwyane Wade was the leading scorer for the US, averaging 16 points per game and scoring 27 points in the final. His performance earned him the unofficial title of the best player in the 2008 Olympics. The gold medal win in Beijing was the first for the US men's basketball team since 2000 and marked a return to the top for USA Basketball.
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The team was nicknamed the Redeem Team
The men's national basketball team of the United States, which won the gold medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China, was nicknamed the "Redeem Team". This was a play on the "Dream Team" moniker given to the 1992 US Olympic team, which included basketball legends like Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, and Larry Bird. The nickname "Redeem Team" alluded to the US team's disappointing performance in the 2004 Summer Olympics and the 2006 FIBA World Championship, where they had to settle for bronze medals.
The 2008 team, led by Kobe Bryant and LeBron James, sought to reclaim the country's dominance in Olympic basketball. They achieved this goal, defeating Spain 118-107 in the final and claiming the gold medal for the first time since 2000. The game is widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball games ever played, with Dwyane Wade leading the scoring for Team USA, averaging 16 points per game.
The "Redeem Team" moniker was so fitting that a Netflix-produced documentary about the 2008 US Olympic Basketball team was titled "The Redeem Team", released in 2022. It chronicled the team's journey to redemption, including the leadership of former Phoenix Suns chairman and CEO Jerry Colangelo, who was named managing director of the national team program in 2005. The documentary also showcased the team's preparations, with an ESPN program called "Road to Redemption" dedicated to their journey.
The 2008 US Olympic Basketball team, or the "Redeem Team", will forever be remembered as one of the greatest basketball teams ever assembled, reclaiming the glory of US basketball on the international stage.
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Dwyane Wade was the leading scorer
The men's national basketball team of the United States won the gold medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China. The team was nicknamed the "Redeem Team", a reference to the disappointing bronze medals the country won in 2004 and 2006.
Wade's performance in the final game against Spain was particularly notable. Along with LeBron James, Wade helped the team get off to a strong start with a 10-0 run. In the fourth quarter, with the lead down to just two points, Wade made a three-pointer to help extend the lead back to nine points. This performance led to Jerry Colangelo, the then-managing director of the United States men's basketball national team, saying: "Without him, we would not have won. It's as simple as that."
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The US had won bronze in 2004 and 2006
The US men's basketball team had a disappointing run in the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece, taking home only a bronze medal. They lost three games against their opponents, the most games ever lost by a US men's Olympic basketball team. This was the second time that Team USA won the bronze medal, having also done so at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul.
Team USA lost its opening game to Puerto Rico by 19 points, which stands as the largest margin of defeat for the US in the Olympics. They also lost a group stage game to Lithuania and the semi-final game to Argentina. The team was led by future Basketball Hall of Fame head coach Larry Brown. The Americans were favoured to win the gold medal, having won the previous three tournaments. However, several prominent players declined invitations, in part due to security concerns following the attacks of 11 September 2001. The roster that went to Greece was described as "hastily assembled".
In 2006, the US men's basketball team again won the bronze medal at the FIBA World Championship in Japan. The team, featuring James, Anthony, Paul, Wade and Dwight Howard, suffered an upset loss to Greece in the semi-final round. This loss showed that even with the support of some of the best American NBA players, international teams could still compete and win.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the US men's basketball team won the gold medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China.
The US defeated Spain 118-107 in the final.
Kobe Bryant was the team captain.
Dwyane Wade was the leading scorer for the US team, averaging 16 points per game.
The US team was nicknamed the "Redeem Team", a reference to the country's disappointing performance at the 2004 Summer Olympics, where they won bronze medals.
