Since professionals started playing in 1992, USA Basketball hasn't lost much... at least until this week. In over 18 years Team USA had only been defeated in two exhibitions ever before this week, and then the Americans went out and lost back-to-back exhibitions against Nigeria and Australia.
From the Dream Team to the Redeem Team and beyond, a USA Basketball loss of any kind is rare (Olympics, world championship or exhibition) - and we're not even talking about the women's 132-3 record since 1984 in the Olympics or World Championships. Since the Dream Team's debut in 1992, here is a complete list of losses by the men's team in any capacity in which NBA players were involved:
September 4, 2002 - Argentina 87, USA 80: Though most of the NBA's biggest names opted out of the 2002 FIBA World Championships, it was still a star-studded American team. After going undefeated in preliminary play, it faced a setback against Argentina in the second round. It didn't cost them much, as they still advanced to the knockout stage without issue, though their 58-game international win streak was no more.
September 5, 2002 - Yugoslavia 81, USA 78: A win over Argentina would have put the Americans against Brazil in the quarterfinals, but instead they faced Yugoslavia, and collapsed. Down four at halftime, the U.S. came back to lead by six through three quarters. There was too much Peja Stojakovic and Vlade Divac, however, and the Americans were eliminated behind a big fourth quarter from the duo. It knocked Team USA out of medal contention.
September 7, 2002 - Spain 81, USA 75: The disappointment in 2002 was completed with a loss in the fifth place game to Spain, handing the Americans a then-team-worst sixth place finish at the World Championship.
August 3, 2004 - Italy 95, USA 78: In what should have been seen as a precursor to the ensuing disaster in Athens, the Americans lost their first-ever exhibition in the NBA-era in the Olympic warmups, getting blown out by Italy. While the U.S. made just four threes, the Italians made 15, and got a combined 53 points from Giacomo Galanda and Gianluca Basile.
August 15, 2004 - Puerto Rico 92, USA 73: The 2004 Olympics make up the majority of this list, as the U.S. went 5-3 in the event and took home bronze... the only time it hasn't won gold in undefeated fashion since '92. It began with a blowout loss at the hands of Puerto Rico, who after leading 21-20 at the end of the first quarter outscored the Americans 28-7 in the second, taking a commanding 49-27 halftime lead and never looking back. Team USA shot just 3-for-24 from three-point range and made just 18-of-29 free throws... compared to Puerto Rico, who went 8-of-16 from deep and made 22 of 23 free throws to complete one of the most shocking results in Olympic history.
August 21, 2004 - Lithuania 94, USA 90: The Americans rebounded from the loss to Puerto Rico with wins over Greece (77-71) and Australia (89-79), but faced another setback against Lithuania. Leading by five at halftime and just two with a quarter to play, the U.S. had no answers for Sarunas Jasikevicius, who finished with 28 points and made three fourth-quarter triples, including a four-point play to put the Lithuanians up for good. The Americans again struggled from the free throw line, going just 22-of-33.
August 27, 2004 - Argentina 89, USA 81: A breezy win over Angola secured a knockout round spot for the Americans, who beat Spain in the quarterfinals before the disappointment in Athens was affirmed for good. Led by Manu Ginobili (29 points), the Argentinians outscored the U.S. in each of the first three quarters to take a 70-57 lead into the fourth, behind 11 made threes. It was too big of a margin for the Americans to overcome, and for the first time in the pro era the U.S. failed to win gold. They would have to settle for bronze after exacting a small amount of revenge against Lithuania in the third place game.
September 1, 2006 - Greece 101, USA 95: The Americans cruised to the semifinals at the 2006 FIBA World Championship, winning all but one game by double-digits, and all but two games by at least 19 points. That changed against Greece, who put on an offensive clinic. The Greeks scored 64 points in the second and third quarters and shot 63 percent for the game. Vassilis Spanoulis (22 points) was too much to handle, and the Americans lost to Greece once again, forcing them to settle for bronze.
August 24, 2019 - Australia 98, USA 94: In the tune-up to the 2019 FIBA World Cup (just the World Championship re-branded) the Americans split with the host country Australia. Two days prior the U.S. won handily 102-86, but the Aussies came back in the next game and won by four, powered by Patty Mills. The Spurs' guard finished with a game-high 30 points, including the final 10 points for Australia, who snapped the Americans' 78-game international win streak.
September 11, 2019 - France 89, USA 79: Similar to 2002, basically every big name opted out of the FIBA World Cup, leaving the Americans with a roster full of decent NBA players, but few All-Stars. After going 3-0 in pool play, the Americans' medal hopes were dashed in the quarterfinals by France, who blitzed the U.S. in the fourth quarters, outscoring them 26-13. Rudy Gobert, in particular, was unstoppable, finishing with 21 points and 16 rebounds, while Evan Fournier led the way with 22 points for the French, who finished in third place.
September 12, 2019 - Serbia 94, USA 89: After losing to France, the U.S. had to play Serbia to determine which placement game they'd play. Turns out, it'd be the seventh place game after the Serbians won a wild game. The Americans trailed 32-7 after one quarter before storming back in the second to trail by just four at halftime. Ultimately, it was Bodgan Bodganovic and his 28 points that was too much to overcome, forcing the Americans to settle for seventh with a win against Poland.
July 10, 2021 - Nigeria 90, USA 87: The 2012 Olympics saw the Americans beat Nigeria 156-73, an 84-point margin of victory. Fast forward nine years, and a Nigerian side with two Olympic wins ever made 20 threes and stunned the U.S. by three in what is far and away the biggest win in the country's basketball history. Conversely, though there were no stakes to the game, it's considered perhaps the worst loss in U.S. basketball history. It should be noted that while there are megastars on this American team, they had been together for four days, with many coming off grueling playoff runs.
July 12, 2021 - Australia 91, USA 83: On Monday the Americans watched a nine-point halftime lead disappear as Patty Mills again took over, finishing with 22 points. It gave Team USA a second straight loss and, going back to the 2019 World Cup, four losses in its last five games. What does it mean for the Olympics? It's probably not great, given most non-American teams have played together for years and have chemistry, going a long way toward overcoming any talent advantage the slapped-together Americans have.