Saoirse Downs
The 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece, saw Argentina's men's basketball team take home the gold medal. This was the country's first and only gold medal in the sport. The Argentine team, led by NBA stars Manu Ginóbili and Luis Scola, defeated Italy in the finals with a score of 84-69. The United States, the birthplace of basketball, embarrassingly finished in third place, losing three games against their opponents—the most defeats ever suffered by a US men's Olympic basketball team.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year | 2004 |
| Medal | Gold |
| Sport | Basketball |
| Gender | Men's tournament |
| Winner | Argentina |
| Runner-up | Italy |
| Winning score | 84-69 |
| Losing score | N/A |
| Location | Athens, Greece |
| Venue | Helliniko Olympic Indoor Arena, Olympic Indoor Hall |
| Dates | 15 August 2004 - 28 August 2004 |
| Notable players | Manu Ginóbili, Luis Scola, Fabricio Oberto, Nikos Chatzivrettas |
| Coach | Larry Brown |
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What You'll Learn
Argentina won the gold medal
The 2004 Olympics basketball tournament was the sixteenth appearance of the sport as an official Olympic medal event. The men's tournament took place from 15 August to 28 August, with 12 teams split into two preliminary groups of six. The top four teams from each group advanced to the knockout stage. Argentina's victory was considered a surprise, as the United States team was favoured to win gold after claiming the title in the previous three tournaments.
Led by future Basketball Hall of Fame coach Larry Brown, the US men's team suffered an early setback with a 19-point loss to Puerto Rico in their opening game, marking the largest margin of defeat for the US in Olympic history. The team went on to lose two more games, the most ever lost by a US men's Olympic basketball team. They ultimately placed third, winning the bronze medal.
Argentina's gold medal-winning performance in 2004 was driven by NBA standouts like Manu Ginóbili, who dominated the US team with 29 points in the semi-final, and Luis Scola. Other key players included Fabricio Oberto, Andres Nocioni, and Carlos Delfino. This victory remains a significant achievement in Argentina's basketball history, showcasing the team's talent and unity on the world stage.
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Italy won silver
Italy's national basketball team won the silver medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece. The team competed in the men's basketball tournament, which took place from 15 August to 28 August 2004. Italy's silver medal was one of several medals won by the Italian delegation, which was the country's largest ever delegation in history.
The 2004 Summer Olympics marked the sixteenth appearance of basketball as an official Olympic medal event. The tournament featured 12 teams, split equally into two groups of six. The top four teams from each group advanced to the knockout stage. Italy's performance in the tournament saw them advance to the final, where they faced Argentina.
On 28 August 2004, Argentina defeated Italy in the final with a score of 84-69, claiming the gold medal. This victory marked Argentina's first and only gold medal in Olympic basketball. Italy's silver medal finish was a notable achievement, with the Italian team falling just short of the top prize.
The Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI) sent a total of 364 athletes to the 2004 Summer Olympics, including 229 men and 135 women. Italy's delegation competed in a range of sports, including archery, boxing, diving, and football, in addition to basketball. The country's diverse athletic talent was on full display, with Italian athletes striving for excellence across multiple disciplines.
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The US men's team won bronze
The US men's basketball team's performance at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece, was a disappointment for the nation that invented the sport. The team, led by future Basketball Hall of Fame head coach Larry Brown, was expected to win the gold medal, having won the previous three tournaments. However, they only managed to secure a bronze medal finish, losing three games against their opponents—the most games ever lost by a US men's Olympic basketball team.
The US team's campaign started on a sour note, losing their opening game to Puerto Rico by 19 points, marking the largest margin of defeat for the US in Olympic history. This loss ended their impressive 24-game Olympic winning streak since 1992, when National Basketball Association (NBA) players were first allowed to compete. The team suffered further setbacks, losing a group stage game to Lithuania and the semi-final game to eventual gold medallists Argentina.
Despite having talented players like Tim Duncan, Allen Iverson, and Richard Jefferson from the 2003 squad, along with newcomers LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade, and Emeka Okafor, the US team struggled with their outside shooting. They finished the tournament ranked last in three-point field goals made (5.5 per game) and 11th in percentage (31.4%) out of 12 teams. Their defensive performance was also lacking.
The bronze medal finish was only the second time the US men's basketball team had won bronze, the first being at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul. The 2004 Olympics served as a learning experience, and the US returned with a stronger roster in the following Summer Olympics, dubbed the "Redeem Team," featuring international superstars like LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, and Dwyane Wade, coached by Mike Krzyzewski. They successfully reclaimed the gold medal for the US.
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The US team was led by future Basketball Hall of Famer Larry Brown
The US men's basketball team's third-place finish at the 2004 Summer Olympics was a disappointment for the country that birthed the sport. The US team was led by future Basketball Hall of Famer Larry Brown, who had a stellar career as a player and a coach.
Brown was enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a coach in 2002. He is the only coach in basketball history to lead eight teams to the playoffs and to win both an NCAA national championship (Kansas Jayhawks, 1988) and an NBA title (Detroit Pistons, 2004). He also led the Pistons to the NBA Finals in 2001 for the first time in 18 years. Brown has a 1,275–965 lifetime professional coaching record in the American Basketball Association (ABA) and the National Basketball Association (NBA). He is the only coach in NBA history to lead eight teams to the playoffs.
Before coaching, Brown played collegiately at the University of North Carolina and professionally in the ABA. He was a three-time ABA All-Star and an All-Atlantic Coast Conference player in 1963. He was considered too small to play in the NBA. After college, Brown played for the National Alliance of Basketball Leagues' Akron Wingfoots for two years (1964-65). He led the Wingfoots to the 1964 AAU National Championship. Brown was selected for Team USA's 1964 Summer Olympics team, which won the gold medal.
Brown began his coaching career in the ABA with the Carolina Cougars and Denver Nuggets. He soon built a rapport with the Nuggets, and in their first season, they scored 118.7 points per game and won the Western Division for the first time in five years with a 65–19 record. They made it to the Division Finals but lost to the Indiana Pacers. Brown went on to coach several NBA teams, including the San Antonio Spurs, Los Angeles Clippers, Indiana Pacers, and Philadelphia 76ers.
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Manu Ginóbili and Luis Scola led Argentina to victory
Manu Ginóbili and Luis Scola were the stars of the Argentinian basketball team that won the gold medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece. The team was coached by Rubén Magnano and included seven players who had spent time in the NBA, including Carlos Delfino, Walter Herrmann, and Fabricio Oberto. Ginóbili and Scola were the leading scorers for Argentina, contributing 36.9 points per game together.
Ginóbili, a San Antonio Spurs legend, had a stellar performance in the semifinal against Team USA, scoring 29 points on just 13 shots to lead Argentina to an 89-81 victory. This win was significant as it was the first time an American professional team had been denied an Olympic gold medal in basketball. Argentina's victory shocked the basketball world and sent American basketball into a tailspin, leading to refocused efforts to improve their national team program.
Ginóbili and Scola's leadership and skill helped Argentina dominate the gold medal game against Italy, winning by a margin of 15 points with a final score of 84-69. This victory cemented their legacies as an all-time international duo and brought home the first-ever Olympic basketball medal for Argentina. Their performance inspired other countries and proved that any nation could achieve glory on the world stage with dedication and teamwork.
The 2004 Argentinian basketball team's journey to Olympic gold was not easy, as they lost two games in the group stage. However, they pulled off close wins against tough opponents such as Serbia and Montenegro and New Zealand to advance to the knockout stage. Their resilience, chemistry, and commitment to winning paid off, and they made history as champions.
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Frequently asked questions
Argentina won the gold medal in men's basketball at the 2004 Summer Olympics, defeating Italy 84-69 in the final.
The 2004 Summer Olympics basketball tournament took place in Athens, Greece.
This was Argentina's first and only gold medal in the event.
The United States men's national basketball team won the bronze medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics. They lost three games against their opponents, the most games ever lost by a US men's Olympic basketball team.
