Games of the XXIInd Olympiad -- 1980

The 1980 Summer Olympics held in Moscow were tainted by the political repercussions of the Soviet Union's invasion of Afghanistan. The USA, Argentina, Canada, China, Mexico and Puerto Rico all qualified for the Olympics, but chose to not participate in the Games in protest of the Soviet invasion. Regardless, U.S. Olympic trials were held and selected athletes were honored as 1980 Olympians.

(USA Basketball Photos) 1980 USA RESULTS (5-1) 1980 USA 97 Los Angeles 84 1980 USA 97 Phoenix 66 1980 USA 77 New York 75 1980 USA 82 France 76 1980 USA 76 Seattle 78 1980 USA 81 1976 USA 77 (The USA did not participate in the 1980 Moscow Olympics. However, the team did participate in the 'Gold Medal Series,' a series of games against NBA All-Star teams in various USA cities. The results of that series are found below.) *1980 OLYMPIC GAMES FINAL STANDINGS 1.Yugoslavia (8-0) 7.Poland (4-3) 2. Italy (5-3) 8.Australia (5-2) 3. Soviet Union (6-2) 9.Czechoslovakia (3-4) 4. Spain (4-4) 10.Sweden (3-4) 5. Brazil (4-4) 11.Senegal (1-6) 6. Cuba (2-6) 12.India (0-7)

The 1980 USA men's basketball team, coached by Dave Gavitt, was the youngest team in the history of men's Olympic basketball. However, their youth did not hamper their expertise. The 1980 squad in a series of exhibition games known as the 'Gold Medal Series,' played five games against NBA All-Star teams, and also played the 1976 U.S. Olympic team that had captured Olympic gold. Defeating the 1976 Olympic squad 81-77, the 1980 U.S. Olympians also scored impressive victories over four of the five NBA All-Star teams they played in exhibition games held across the country.

The 1980 Olympians' only setback being a two-point loss in Seattle. LaSalle's Michael Brooks led the 1980 team in scoring during the 'Gold Medal Series' averaging 13.2 points a game, Sam Bowie added 11.8 ppg. and Mark Aguirre accounted for 11.3 ppg. The 7'1' Bowie also led the USA Olympians in rebounding with a 6.9 average and in block shots with 14.

In the 1980 Moscow Olympics, the favored Soviet Union squad was upended twice in the semifinal round and was eliminated from the hunt for the gold medal. First the Soviets fell to Italy 87-85, then lost a heartbreaker to Yugoslavia in overtime, 101-91. Yugoslavia went on to defeat Italy 86-77 in the gold medal game and claim its first Olympic title, while the Soviets rebounded to upend Spain 117-94 in the bronze medal game.

*The USA did not participate in the 1980 Moscow Olympics. However, the team did participate in the 'Gold Medal Series,' a series of games against NBA All-Star teams in various USA cities. The cumulative statistics from the that series can be found above.