Basketball at the 2004 Summer Olympics

The United States Men's National Basketball Team's Performance

A Historic Disappointment

The 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens marked a significant event in basketball history. However, for the United States men's national basketball team, the games ended in a historic disappointment.

Led by future Hall of Famers like Tim Duncan and LeBron James, the American team was heavily favored to win gold. However, they faced a series of setbacks throughout the tournament.

In the semifinals, the United States narrowly lost to Argentina by a score of 89-81. This defeat shattered their hopes of reaching the gold medal game.

Settling for Bronze

In the bronze medal game, the United States faced Lithuania and managed to secure a victory with a score of 104-96. While this result prevented a complete disaster, it marked the first time since 1988 that the American men's basketball team failed to win gold.

Conclusion

The 2004 Summer Olympics left a lasting impression on the legacy of the United States men's national basketball team. The disappointment of not winning gold highlighted the growing competitiveness of international basketball and served as a reminder that even the most dominant teams are not invincible.