On the heels of gold-medal performances at the 2012 Olympic Games, as well as undefeated exhibition records leading up to London, USA Basketball today named its 2012 U.S. Men’s and Women’s Olympic/National Teams as co-recipients of the 2012 USA Basketball Team of the Year award.
Timberwolves All-Star forward Kevin Love was part of the U.S. Men's Olympic team that won the gold medal. Love was just the second Wolves player to ever play in the Olympics (Kevin Garnett, 2000), and in eight games he averaged 11.6 points and a team-high 7.6 rebounds in 17.3 minutes per game. Love scored a team-high 16 points vs. Tunisia, recorded a double-double against Australia and tallied nine points and nine rebounds in just 18 minutes in the gold medal game vs. Spain.
“The chemistry we had and the camaraderie we had on this year’s Olympic team, although we’ve had really camaraderie in the past, just seemed to be at the highest level,” said USA men’s coach Mike Krzyzewski (Duke University). “I actually thought we had even better camaraderie than any of the teams we played against, which is very unusual because those teams have been together for years, whether it be Spain, Argentina, Lithuania or France. Our guys really got along, and they had fun. I loved the fact that when the pressure was the most, they responded the best, and I think that was because they were such a close team.”
This year’s announcement marks the 17th time USA Basketball has presented the Team of the Year Award, which first was earned in 1996 by the historic USA Women’s National/Olympic Team.
2012 U.S. Olympic/Men’s National Team
Playing July 29-Aug. 12 in London, England, the 2012 U.S. Olympic Men’s Basketball Team wrapped up an 8-0 record to capture a gold medal at the 2012 Olympics, and the squad earned a 5-0-exhibition record leading up to London.
Led by Krzyzewski, the team included assistant coaches Jim Boeheim (Syracuse), Mike D’Antoni and Nate McMillan, as well as players Kevin Love (Minnesota Timberwolves), Carmelo Anthony (New York Knicks), Kobe Bryant (Los Angeles Lakers), Tyson Chandler (New York Knicks), Anthony Davis (New Orleans Hornets), Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City Thunder), James Harden (Houston Rockets), Andre Iguodala (Denver Nuggets), LeBron James (Miami Heat), Chris Paul (Los Angeles Clippers), Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City Thunder) and Deron Williams (Brooklyn Nets).
“I think what was special about our team was our camaraderie and the brotherhood that we had,” James said. “Not only did we enjoy each other while on the court, we all got along great off the floor as well. That friendship is what helped us come together, and made it feel easier knowing that we had that bond off the floor.”
The USA’s 156 points scored in a win against Nigeria on Aug. 2 were the most points scored by any team in Olympic Games history.
During Olympic play, the USA topped teams by an average of 32.1 points per game and listed No. 1 in six of 13 major statistical categories among the 12-team field, including points per game (115.5), field goal percentage (.523), 3-point percentage (.440), rebound average (44.6), steals per game (10.4) and assists per game (25.0).
Among 2012 Olympic single-game bests, the USA listed No. 1 in points scored (156), field goals made (59), field goal attempts (88), field goal percentage (.711), 3-pointers made (29), 3-point attempts (46, twice), 3-point percentage (.630), free throws made (28), free throw attempts (38), assists (41) and steals (17).
The team established all-time U.S. Olympic single-game records for points scored, field goals made, field-goal percentage, 3-pointers made, 3-pointers attempted and assists (tied).
Additionally, the team set all-time U.S. Olympic competition records for 3-pointers made (129), 3-pointers attempted (293), 3-point percentage (.440), rebounds (357, eight games) and highest rebound average (44.6).
As part of USA Basketball’s Hoops for Troops program, the USA Men’s National Team conducted an open practice for 3,100 military members and their families on July 14 at the D.C. Armory.
USA Basketball
Based in Colorado Springs, Colo., USA Basketball is a nonprofit organization and the national governing body for men's and women's basketball in the United States. As the recognized governing body for basketball in the U.S. by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and the United States Olympic Committee (USOC), USA Basketball is responsible for the selection; training and fielding of USA teams that compete in FIBA sponsored international basketball competitions, as well as for some national competitions.
USA teams are the current men's and women's champions in the Olympics, men's and women's FIBA World Championships; women’s FIBA U19 World Champions; men's and women's FIBA U17 World Champions; and the men's and women's U18 and U16 FIBA Americas Championships; as well as the women’s FIBA 3X3 World Championship and 3x3 U18 World Championship.
USA Basketball also currently ranks No. 1 in all five of FIBA's world ranking categories, including combined, men's, women's, boys and girls.