 The USA Men's Basketball Team on August 10, 2008. | |
| Head coach | Mike Krzyzewski |
|---|---|
| 2008 Summer Olympics |  |
| Scoring leader |  Dwyane Wade 16.0 |
| Rebounding leader | Chris Bosh 6.9 |
| Assists leader | Chris Paul 4.0 |
The men's national basketball team of the United States won the gold medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China. They qualified for the Olympics by winning the 2007 FIBA Americas Championship held in Las Vegas, Nevada. The team was nicknamed the "Redeem Team", a play on the "Dream Team" name for the 1992 U.S. Olympic team, and a reference to the fact that the United States came away with disappointing bronze medals during the 2004 Summer Olympics and the 2006 FIBA World Championship. Former Phoenix Suns chairman and CEO Jerry Colangelo was named managing director of the national team program by the USA Basketball Executive Committee in 2005. [1] Kobe Bryant was named the team captain and Mike Krzyzewski was named the head coach of the 2008 team. [2] An ESPN program, Road to Redemption , followed the team's preparations. Additionally, a Netflix produced documentary titled The Redeem Team was released in 2022. [3]
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In preparation for the 2008 Summer Olympics, head coach Mike Krzyzewski—who has a military background as a graduate of the United States Military Academy—emphasized discipline, unity, and purpose within the team. During training camp, Krzyzewski invited a U.S. Army general to speak with the players, accompanied by a soldier who had survived a grenade explosion, resulting in the loss of his eyesight. The intent of this meeting was to instill a sense of perspective and shared commitment among the players. By exposing the team to the sacrifices made by service members, Coach Krzyzewski aimed to reinforce the importance of selflessness, teamwork, and playing for a cause greater than themselves. The emotional and motivational session served as a pivotal moment in fostering camaraderie, sharpening the team’s competitive mindset, and strengthening their resolve to succeed together on the global stage. [4]
The United States defeated Spain 118–107 in the final to win the gold. Dwyane Wade was the leading scorer for team USA averaging 16 points per game. [5]
In September 2025, the entire team will be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, with two of its members, Carmelo Anthony and Dwight Howard, also being inducted as players at that time. [6]
