Olympic Basketball History

Olympic basketball history goes a long way back, spanning over a century. Even though the Olympic Committee did not make basketball an Olympic sport until 1935, the game created by Dr. James Naismith  in 1891 debuted as a demonstration event at the 1904 Olympic games in St. Louis. The first time Olympic basketball was played as an Olympic Sport in Olympic basketball history was during Hitler's reign of terror at the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games.

The first Olympic basketball game in Berlin was played as an outdoor sport on a sand court. Olympic Basketball did not become an indoor sport until the games of 1948. During those first years the sport had numerous rule changes and adjustments. The United States Basketball Team has understood what it takes to be the best at Olympic Basketball throughout all the changes. They currently hold the longest running winning streak in Olympic basketball history. The United States Basketball Team took the gold medal for the first seven Olympic games and placed second when their "gold streak" was ended by the Soviet Union. Since then they have skipped one game, and took gold in all but two of the games, when they still achieved bronze medals. The United States Basketball Team is no doubt the best team in Olympic basketball history.

Women's Basketball became a part of Olympic basketball history in 1976. Much like the male counterpart of the sport, the United States Basketball Team has dominated this sport as well. The United States Basketball Team has won a medal in every competition it has been in. Six gold medals, one silver, and one bronze make them the best women's basketball team in Olympic Basketball history.