5 Teams with the highest medal tally in Olympics Men's Basketball history

2021 Tokyo Olympics Men's Basketball Medal Ceremony
2021 Tokyo Olympics Men's Basketball Medal Ceremony

#3 Yugoslavia - 5 medals (1968, 1976-1988 Olympics)

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Yugoslavia Basketball Team
Yugoslavia Basketball Team

Yugoslavia was dissolved in 1991 to form five new sovereign states. However, they were a force to be reckoned with in the Olympics before the dissolution.

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Team Yugoslavia won five medals in the Olympics despite making only eight appearances. Of the five medals, they have one gold, three silver, and one bronze.

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Since its dissolution, only Serbia and Croatia have continued to put up decent performances in international competitions. Serbia won the silver medal in the 2016 Rio Olympics. But with an impressive display by Team Slovenia, more states from the former Yugoslavia are asserting their dominance in international basketball.


#2 Soviet Union - 9 medals (1952 - 1980, 1988 Olympics)

USSR basketball team
USSR basketball team

Only the Soviet Union men's basketball team has been as successful and effective as Team USA has been in the Olympics. They have won medals in all of their nine appearances.

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However, the Soviet Union was dissolved into 15 states, all of which have their national basketball teams. Following the dissolution, only Russia and Lithuania managed to stay relevant in international basketball. Russia has won one medal in the Olympics, while Lithuania won bronze medals in three consecutive summer games.

While the Soviet Union remained active, they bested Team USA in the 1972 Munich Olympics to clinch their first-ever gold medal in men's basketball. Their second gold medal came three years before their dissolution, at the 1988 Seoul Olympics.

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#1 Team USA - 19 medals (1936 - 2020 Olympics)

Men's Basketball Medal Ceremony: Day 15
Men's Basketball Medal Ceremony: Day 15

Team USA has been the most successful country in the Olympics, winning medals in all 19 appearances. The level of success has been incredible, with 16 of the 19 medals being gold.

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Led by Kevin Durant, Team USA just won its fourth consecutive gold medal at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. Despite having a shaky start in the group stage, the team bounced back and went on a 7-0 run to clinch the gold.

The USA basketball men's national team has ranked first in the FIBA rankings for a while, as they have continued to assert their dominance in the international basketball scene. The most famous names in world basketball like Michael Jordan and LeBron James have suited up for Team USA at a point in time. It is little wonder they have continually dominated the game for years unending.

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Edited by Parimal
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