6 Players to have won an NBA title and Olympic Gold in the same year

As the NBA players on Team USA defeated France in the men's basketball Finals in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, the country earned it's fourth consecutive Olympic gold medal.

Team USA usually dominates the competition given the lopsided talent on the roster but this year, the games were close and there was real fear that USA might not win the gold medal.

However, Kevin Durant led the team with 29 points in the Finals and proved to the world that no country can compete with the USA in basketball.

Who has won an NBA title and Olympic gold medal in the same summer?

Draymond Green joins the list of just seven players who have won multiple gold medals and NBA titles. However, not every NBA champion gets the opportunity to bathe in champagne twice in the same year as the Summer Olympics take place once every four years.

Naturally, the list of players who have won an NBA title and Olympic gold medal in the same year is small so without further ado, let's take a look at those names.

#1 Michael Jordan

Michael Jordan (center) at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics [Source: USA Today]

Arguably the greatest player of all time, Michael Jordan is unsurprisingly on this list. After the 1988 bronze finish for Team USA at the Seoul Olympics, the country assembled the 'Dream Team' for the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, led by Jordan and Magic Johnson.

The Dream Team cruised through the competition earning the gold medal with ease and Jordan earned his second Olympic gold medal.

📅 On this day in 1992, the U.S. "Dream Team" defeated Croatia 117-85 to take home the gold medal in men's basketball at the Barcelona Olympics.Michael Jordan led the way, scoring 22 points in just 23 minutes played. He was one of seven U.S. players to score in double figures. pic.twitter.com/slOzcbtWom

— Justin Kubatko (@jkubatko) August 8, 2021

Michael Jordan carried USA to the gold medal just weeks after winning the 1992 NBA championship with the Chicago Bulls. At this time, he was already a three-time MVP and two-time Finals MVP and he added a two-time Olympic gold medalist to his list of achievements.

Jordan and the Bulls defeated the Clyde Drexler-led Portland Trail Blazers in 6 games. MJ averaged 35.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, 6.5 assists and 1.7 steals per game in the Finals on an astonishing 52/43/89 shooting split.

#2 Scottie Pippen

Scottie Pippen at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics

Scottie Pippen is the only player on this list to have done this twice in their career. He was part of the 1992 Dream Team along with Michael Jordan and also the Chicago Bulls. Pippen won the gold medal at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics right after capturing his second NBA championship in the 1992 NBA Finals.

Pippen did so a second time when he captured the 1996 NBA championship with the Chicago Bulls, defeating the Seattle Supersonics in 6 games. He averaged 15.7 points, 8.2 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 2.3 steals and 1.3 blocks per game in the 1996 NBA Finals to win his fourth NBA title.

Pippen then went on to win his second Olympic gold medal at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.

#3 LeBron James

LeBron James at the 2012 London Olympics

Arguably the best player in the game today, LeBron James also makes this list. The four-time MVP won his second Olympic gold medal and his first NBA title in the same summer. He finally conquered the NBA title with the Miami Heat in the 2012 NBA Finals after defeating the OKC Thunder in 5 games.

James averaged 27.8 points, 6.2 rebounds, 5.6 assists and 2.2 steals per game in the series and earned Finals MVP.

In Game 5 of the 2012 NBA Finals, LeBron showed up and led the Heat to its 2nd NBA title. pic.twitter.com/Y66JP3ADgu

— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) June 21, 2019

He then led Team USA to a second consecutive gold medal finish in the 2012 London Olympics. James scored the second-ever Olympic triple-double (first in USA-Olympics history) in the 2012 Games, when he posted 11 points, 14 rebounds and 12 assists. His 12 assists total is tied for the highest in USA Olympics history.

#4 Kyrie Irving

Kyrie Irving at the 2016 Rio Olympics

Kyrie Irving captured his first NBA championship and Olympic gold medal in the same year. He led the Cleveland Cavaliers to their first NBA title in franchise history alongside LeBron James.

They defeated the historically great 73-9 Golden State Warriors in 7 games and became the first and only team in franchise history to win a Finals series after being down 3-1.

He averaged 27.1 points, 2.9 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 2.2 steals per game in the Finals and earned recognition for dropping 41 points in a must-win Game 5 on the road.

He then joined Team USA in their run for a third consecutive Olympic gold medal in the 2016 Rio Olympics.

June 13 will be remembered as the start of the most epic Finals comeback 👏Down 3-1 in 2016, Kyrie and Bron WENT OFF for 41 points each pic.twitter.com/pBWWqB7mk3

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) June 13, 2019

#5 Khris Middleton

Khris Middleton and Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks win the 2021 NBA title [Source: Sideline Sources]

Khris Middleton is the latest to join the list of players who have won an NBA title and Olympic gold medal in the same year. He led the Milwaukee Bucks in the 2021 NBA Finals against the Phoenix Suns and won the title in 6 games.

He was the second-best player on the team and was famous for making clutch late-game shots in the playoffs. Middleton averaged 24.0 points, 6.3 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 1.5 steals per game in the Finals.

He then joined Team USA in Tokyo just a few days after winning the NBA title and instantly contributed towards capturing the gold medal.

NBA Champion ➡️ winning the gold at #Tokyo2020. What a last few weeks it’s been for #GLeagueAlum @Khris22m! #Basketball pic.twitter.com/jz8CxYCO8V

— NBA G League (@nbagleague) August 7, 2021

#6 Jrue Holiday

Jrue Holiday at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics

Jrue Holiday was a major factor in both, the NBA championship run and the Olympic gold medal finish. His defense and playmaking helped elevate the Milwaukee Bucks after they were down 0-2 in the 2021 NBA Finals.

Holiday averaged 16.7 points, 9.3 assists, 6.3 rebounds and 2.2 steals per game in the Finals. His famous steal from Devin Booker in the final seconds of Game 5 and subsequent alley-oop to Giannis Antetokounmpo is regarded as one of the greatest plays in NBA Finals history.

In Game 5 of the NBA Finals, Jrue Holiday made an unbelievable defensive play to seal the Bucks' win.Devin Booker: “I turned and he was right there."On Jrue Holiday's big moment at @TheAthletic (50% off offer ends today):https://t.co/4zpqF63J7H

— Eric Nehm (@eric_nehm) August 9, 2021

Holiday then accompanied his teammate Khris Middleton to Tokyo for the 2020 Summer Games. His defense was much-needed for Team USA and his contributions to the team were obvious. He scored 11 points against France in the gold medal clincher.