USA Men's National Team History vs. 2012 Exhibition Opponents

The USA and Argentina national teams last met in an official FIBA/FIBA Americas competition in the 2008 Olympics when the Americans knocked off Argentina 101-81 in a semifinal clash. The first of Argentina’s two victories over the USA National Team came in the 2002 World Championship (87-80) and was the first loss suffered by a USA national team comprised of NBA players, and ended the program’s 58 game win streak. Argentina also posted an 89-81 win over the U.S. in the semifinals of the 2004 Olympics.

Argentina earned its qualifying berth for the 2012 Olympics by capturing the 2011 FIBA Americas Championship. The South Americans finished in fifth place finish at the 2010 FIBA World Championship, collected bronze at the 2008 Olympics, finished fourth in the 2006 World Championship and won gold in the 2004 Olympics.

Since NBA players became eligible to participate in FIBA competitions, the USA has compiled an 11-2 win-loss record versus Argentina national teams in official FIBA competitions.

The USA-Dominican Republic exhibition game in 2012 will be just the third meeting ever between a USA team comprised of NBA players and the Dominican Republic national team.

The first matchup between the two nations occurred in 1999 at the FIBA Americas Championship (Olympic Qualifying Tournament) and the U.S. squad rolled to a convincing 107-71 victory. Four years later, again during the FIBA Americas Championship (Olympic Qualifying Tournament), the two squads clashed and the U.S. came away with a 111-73 win.

The Dominican Republic, currently ranked #25 in the world by FIBA, placed third in the 2011 FIBA Americas Championship after downing Puerto Rico 103-89 in the bronze medal contest. Just missing an Olympic qualifying berth, the Dominican Republic will have to earn its Olympic invite through the 2012 FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament will be held July 2-8, 2012, in Caracas, Venezuela.

Brazil, which finished second in the 2011 FIBA Americas Championship to earn a qualifying spot in the 2012 Olympic Games, and ninth in the 2010 FIBA World Championship, currently lists No. 13 in the FIBA World rankings. Most recently, the U.S. and Brazil met in preliminary round play at the 2010 FIBA World Championship and the USA squeaked out a 70-68 victory.

Since NBA players became eligible to participate in FIBA competitions, the USA has compiled an 8-0 win-loss record versus Brazil national teams in official FIBA/FIBA Americas competitions.

The USA-Spain exhibition on July 24 will be the first matchup between FIBA’s No. 1 and 2 world powers since the two national teams squared off in 2010 in an exhibition game in Madrid. The USA pulled out a narrow 86-85 win in the friendly. The last official FIBA competition between the two squads came in the 2008 Olympic gold medal game. In a down-to-the wire game that has been described as one of the greatest international games ever played, the USA fought off the determined Spaniards 118-107 to earn gold at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Two years earlier, while the U.S. finished third at the 2006 FIBA World Championship after being stopped by Greece (101-95) in the semifinals, the Spaniards defeated Greece 70-47 in the gold medal game to claim the ’06 World Championship title.

Spain, currently ranked No. 2 in the world by FIBA, won the 2009 and 2011 EuroBasket titles, placed sixth in the 2010 FIBA World Championship, earned the silver medal in Beijing at the 2008 Olympic Games and won gold at the 2006 FIBA World Championship in Japan.

Since NBA players became eligible to participate in FIBA competitions, the USA has compiled a 5-1 win-loss record versus Spanish national teams in official FIBA competitions.