The Olympic basketball stage is one like no other.
Every four years many of the very best in the world of hoops come together to battle it out in front of millions, all with the hope of achieving Olympic glory.
And Paris 2024 will be no different.
As the Games fast approach, Olympics.com takes a look back at some of the most historic moments in the men’s Olympic basketball competition, specifically those that have been inked in the annals of history.
From the most points scored in a single Olympic basketball game to the all-time stat leaders, discover a complete list of the men’s history-makers and record-breakers.
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Olympic Basketball biggest game score: USA v Nigeria 156-73, London 2012
Team USA came to London 2012 with one mission: to defend their crown as Olympic champions.
To do it, they assembled one of their strongest-ever teams with NBA superstars LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and the great Kobe Bryant among those selected to do the job.
Their jaunt in England proved ultimately a successful one. After vanquishing Spain in the final 100-78, Team USA departed yet another Olympic basketball tournament on top of the podium.
But it wasn’t just in the final that they shone; on their road to gold, the men from the USA were responsible for producing the biggest game score in Olympic basketball history in their pool game against Nigeria.
The US defeated the African side 156-73 to rewrite the record for points in a game.
The game also holds the record for the biggest halftime score with the US up 78-45 at half-time. It’s also the third-biggest win margin at an Olympic men’s basketball tournament.
Carmelo Anthony in particular was like lightning. He scored 37 points in only 14 minutes of play, shooting 10 of 12 on three-pointers.
Carmelo Anthony celebrates after winning the men's basketball gold medal game at London 2012
Olympic basketball games with the most overtimes
Overtime. The place where dreams are made and hearts are broken.
The Olympics knows its fair share of overtime when it comes to the men’s basketball competition but only four times have the game ever gone into double-overtime.
The most recent in memory was Argentina’s 111-107 triumph over hosts Brazil at Rio 2016.
Here's the full list of matchups that went to overtime, prior to Paris 2024.
- Argentina 111–107 Brazil - Rio 2016
- Canada 86–83 Russia - Syndey 2000
- Lithuania 83–81 Croatia - Atlanta 1996
- Australia 109–101 Brazil - Atlanta 1996
Olympic men's basketball: Scoring records
When it comes to men’s basketball scoring records there is one man who dominates the charts at the Olympic Games: Brazil’s Oscar Schmidt.
Though never once able to clinch a medal, five-time Olympian Schmidt left his mark in other ways. To this day he remains top of the leaderboard for all-time point scorer (1093), all-time top average scorer (28.8) and most points scored in a single game (55).
It would take some considerable effort to topple Schmidt on these charts but that’s not to say it would be impossible.
At Tokyo 2020, in 2021, Luka Doncic registered 48 points to go joint-second for most points scored in a single game.
Olympic men's basketball records: All-time top scorers (prior to Paris 2024)
Olympic men's basketball records: Most points in a single game (prior to Paris 2024)
Olympic men's basketball records: Most rebounds, assists, blocks, and steals in a single game
It’s not always about points. A game of basketball can be impacted in many other ways, from rebounds and assists, to blocks and steals.
Legends of the sport including Micheal Jordan, Pau Gasol, Steve Nash, and Patrick Ewing are among the names to feature.
Here are the top five men’s Olympic basketball leaders in those divisions.
US Basketball legend Michael Jordan is among those to feature in the top five for most blocks during a single Olympic basketball game
