USA Basketball Men's Teams Enjoying Unprecedented Success

-- USA Basketball Men's Teams Rank First In Every FIBA And FIBA Americas Competition Level --

Sept. 15, 2010 • Colorado Springs, Colorado

With its recent gold medal performance at the 2010 FIBA World Championship behind them, USA Basketball men's teams now rank number one at every FIBA or FIBA Americas competition level and in the process have compiled a sparkling perfect overall win-loss record of 44-0 in the six premiere competitions held since 2009.

Since current USA Basketball Chairman Jerry Colangelo was put in charge in 2005 of restructuring USA Basketball Men’s National Team program, the USA men’s national teams have compiled a sensational 49-1 win-loss record in international play and have now won 36 consecutive games. The USA men’s national teams, current defending World and Olympic champions, are 35-1 in FIBA or FIBA Americas competitions and 14-0 in exhibition play since 2006.

The USA’s incredible performances at the national team levels have carried down to the USA Basketball youth programs too. The American men for the first time in international basketball history are currently the reigning champs in every age level competition, including the FIBA U19 and FIBA U17 world championships, and the FIBA Americas U18 and FIBA Americas U16 championships.

Additionally, in 2010 USA players Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City Thunder) and Brad Beal (Chaminade College Prep H.S. / St. Louis, Mo.) were named as the Most Valuable Player of their competitions, the 2010 FIBA World Championship and 2010 FIBA U17 World Championship, respectively.

"We’ve worked diligently at changing the culture within USA Basketball’s national team. It started by learning to respect the international basketball culture and the other teams; developing a true national team program; and building continuity, character and commitment within the program," said Colangelo.

"We succeeded in doing those things and have built a national team program that has and currently features many of the best players in the United States. We’ve had 30 different players involved in the four USA national teams that competed in major FIBA and FIBA Americas competitions since 2006 and we have maintained a very high level of competitiveness. We have also had many other younger NBA and collegiate players involved with the national team program through our select teams. So the pipeline is full of talented young players that aspire to represent their country."

USA Basketball, its players and coaching staffs can enjoy its unprecedented successes, but not for long. In 2011 the U.S. men will put their titles on the line at the FIBA U19 World Championship and FIBA Americas U16 Championship.