5 greatest basketball teams in Olympic history

2) Argentina - 2004

The Argentians players are overcome with joy after their triumph in 2004

Argentina remain the only team to have beaten the United States to the gold medal since NBA players were allowed to participate in the event. This was a side that captured a number of hearts with their play, starting from the very first encounter against Serbia and Montenegro where Manu Ginobili scored a stunning buzzer-beater that went on to be immortalised in basketball history.

They were beaten by Italy in a nail-biting affair in the group stages, where they lost 75 - 76 before they exacted full revenge on their opponents by trouncing them 84 - 69 in the final. They also overcame a talented United States side in the semifinals where Ginobili starred and scored 29 points.

The Argentinan team were deserved winners and boasted of a talented team including six players that played in the NBA - Manu Ginobili, Luis Scola, Andres Nocioni, Fabricio Oberto, Walter Herrmann and Carlos Delfino.