Australian swimmers. Indian field hockey players. Ethiopian runners. Chinese divers. Hungarian water polo teams. Cuban volleyballers.

Any country with long-standing success in a particular Olympic sport, team or individual, take great pride in that eminence. That excellence inspires fellow countrymen to continue the legacy with each Olympiad. For the United States, basketball is no different.

Ever since the sport was added to the Olympic program beginning on the sandy, soggy outdoor courts at the Berlin Games of 1936, the United States has been a basketball powerhouse. It has dominated the sport like no one else in any Olympic sport.

*14 Olympic Appearances

*12 Gold Medals

*1 Silver Medal

*1 Bronze Medal

*109 Victories

*2 Losses (1972, 1988)

But part of what makes the Olympics so exciting is that great upsets do happen. Sports greats have at times come to the Games as heavy favorites but have fallen to undistinguished foes. The great Russian Greco-Roman wrestler, Alexander Karelin, undefeated for over a decade was going for his fourth straight gold medal at the 2000 Games in Sydney but lost to unheralded American Rulon Gardner.

In track there was the Jamaican 4x400 relay team at the 1952 Helsinki Olympics that defeated a highly-favored U.S. team to win the gold medal by one-tenth of a second.

Long before the "Dream Team" term was applied to the American basketball squad of 1992 in Barcelona, the Soviet Union had their own Dream Team in ice hockey. For years they assembled the country's best players (most tied into the army) and simply dominated the

sport.

In one of the greatest upsets in Olympic history, this Soviet dream team lost to a bunch of unknowns from America at the 1980 Winter Games in Lake Placid. The U.S. victory was forever etched in the annals of sport by the game's TV announcer when he yelled out in the closing seconds "Do you believe in Miracles?!..yes!"

It may not happen on the basketball court in Athens but should it occur the same call would be appropriate. Many feel the United States has never been more vulnerable for an upset. In the most recent World Basketball Championships not only did America lose their 58 game international game winning streak but they lost several games to Argentina, Yugoslavia, and Spain to finish sixth!

By any measure the caliber of the game being played globally has never been better. Unquestionably the NBA is a major contributor to that higher level of play including the Olympic competition in recent Games.

Ever since they've had to face the elite players from America beginning with the dream team in 1992, other nations have steadily improved as a result of that direct competition against the likes of Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, and Larry Bird. Many NBA players have also extended their careers by playing in leagues in Europe, Asia, and South America. Also top players from all over the world have come to America and are now playing in the NBA. Manu Ginobli, Yao Ming, Dirk Nowitzki, and Pedrag Stojakovic are just a few that have flourished playing against the best players in the world night in and night out.

However, fresh off his first NBA crown guiding the Detroit Pistons to the title, Larry Brown will bring the latest version of the Dream Team to Athens' OAKA Indoor Hall intent on showing the world that the United States is still the team to beat for the gold medal.

"We've selected players who are very talented. They can all play multiple positions, and each one plays the game very unselfishly," says Brown, who won a gold medal as a player on the 1964 U.S. team in Tokyo.

Like the depth of talent the Australians have in triathlon and the Canadians in ice hockey, the American unit has a seemingly bottomless pool of highly-skilled players to choose from. Stars of recent Dream Teams like Shaquille O'Neal, Kevin Garnett, and Jason Kidd have yielded positions to a new wave of NBA talent who are looking forward to the Olympic experience despite the physical toll their long season has taken.

"It's a dream come true for me to represent my country in Athens," says NBA Rookie of the Year and the league's number one draft pick, LeBron James, "I have great respect for Coach Brown and look forward to competing against the best basketball players in the world."

Aware of their country's rich Olympic tradition, even the veterans can't hide their enthusiasm. "It is a big honor," states New York Knick guard Stephon Marbury. "It is something a lot of people aren't able to experience. I watched the Dream Team in 1992 so to be an Olympian feels like I achieved a lifelong accomplishment."

There are eleven other nations with lots of pride as well competing against the United States in men's basketball. The leading contenders have rosters comprised of current and former NBA players. It is these seasoned stars who hold their nation's fortunes in Greece.

No other national team has stronger NBA experience than Serbia and Montenegro. The defending FIBA World Champions and silver medalists at the Centennial Olympics in Atlanta, Serbia and Montenegro hopes that a heavy NBA background will propel them to the top of the victory podium in Athens.

This deeply talented team (formerly Yugoslavia) is led by Sacramento Kings teammates Vlade Divac and Predrag Stojakovic.

Stojakovic, one of the world's premiere shooters has been named to three straight NBA All-Star teams. Fellow countrymen and their NBA affiliation include Los Angeles Clippers Marko Jaric and Predrag Drobnjak, center Vladimir Radmonovic (Seattle Supersonics)and Darko Milicic of the champion Detroit Pistons to name a few. There are almost as many players here with NBA roots as the American team!

Spain will be led by 2002 NBA Rookie of the Year, Pau Gasol who plays for the Memphis Grizzlies. From Down Under, Australia rests their hopes on sharp-shooting veteran guard Shane Heal who's played for the San Antonio Spurs and Minnesota Timberwolves. Their neighbor to the south, New Zealand, will be guided by forward/center Sean Marks who's worked for several NBA teams after being drafted by the New York Knicks.

Lithuania, with a strong Olympic history including bronze medals in the last three Games, came closest most recently in upsetting the United States in Olympic competition.

In the semi-finals in Sydney, the Americans were forced to rally in the last few seconds of the game. Lithuania missed a game-winning three point shot at the final buzzer giving the U.S. a narrow, 85-83 win. Center Zydrunas Ilgauskas of the Cleveland Cavaliers is their go-to man. Legendary star Arvydas Sabonis would bring great experience and inspiration if he joins his countrymen.

Puerto Rico boasts point guard Carlos Arroyo, a rising star with the Utah Jazz. He'll be joined by compatriot Daniel Santiago who is a center for the Milwaukee Bucks.

Argentina, the 2002 FIBA World Championship silver medalists, arrive in Athens as strong medal contenders led by Manu Genobili the super-sub guard of the San Antonio Spurs. This South American basketball-stronghold certainly has to be confident after their convincing 87-80 victory over the U.S. at those championships.

Italy and Angola will do their best with rosters lacking NBA experience, while Greece, an automatic qualifier as the host nation, turn to guard Jake Tsakalidis who played for the Phoenix Suns and the Memphis Grizzlies.

Making its sixth appearance in the Olympics is China. The Chinese team featuring a couple of players with extensive NBA experience qualified for Athens with an impressive 8-0 record including a 106-96 victory over South Korea in the Asian Championship game.

The key aspect of the Chinese unit will be the performance of its massive front line. Center Mengke Bateer has banged with the big men of the NBA for several teams including the Toronto Raptors and San Antonio Spurs. The big man with the shooting touch, Yao Ming, the NBA's number one pick in 2002 who has quickly become an all-star as the center for the Houston Rockets, will be a leading attraction at the Olympic basketball competition.

China surprised the basketball world with another NBA connection. Del Harris, a 66-year old assistant coach with the Dallas Mavericks, is the first foreigner to guide China in international play.

Harris has won more than 500 games as a head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks, Los Angeles Lakers, and Houston Rockets. He's also coached extensively around the world and when asked if the language barrier would be a major hurdle responded, "Pick and roll is really pick and roll in any language".

The language of basketball has really been refined by the meshing of talents from around the world playing in the NBA and chances are any nation that wins a medal at the XXVIIIth Olympiad in Athens will have some NBA influence to thank.

Source: Xinhua