The USA also ranked seventh in free throw percentage (.717) and fifth in 3-point field goals made per game (7.40). The Americans finished tops in scoring offense (101.7 ppg.), scoring margin (+30.9 ppg.), field goal percentage (.562), 3-point field goal percentage (.468), scoring defense (70.8 ppg.), defensive field goal percentage (.381) and rebounding margin (+11.3). The USA as a team ranked first in seven of nine statistical categories. The USA opponents averaged 70.8 ppg., and shot just 38.1 percent overall, including 36.3 percent from three. The USA shot 56.2 percent from the floor, an outstanding 46.8 percent from 3-point, and outrebounded its opponents by 11.3 rebounds a game. owned a 30.9 average margin of victory through its 10 wins. Averaging 101.7 points a game, and an amazing 29.3 assists a game, the U.S. compiled impressive statistics during the 12-day tournament. Iverson, the USA's leading scorer after eight games at 14.3 ppg., missed the USA's final two games because of a sprained right thumb which was suffered in the first half of the Aug. McGrady sat out the second half of the Virgin Islands game because of a tight back, and missed the USA's next three games. McGrady, who at the time ranked as the USA's leading scorer, missed three-and-a-half games because of a back woes. Then veteran Karl Malone was lost for the tournament three days into the team's training after the death of his mother. The USA named Carter to replace him on the roster.
First, Kobe Bryant was forced to withdraw from the USA team prior to the start of its training after he underwent knee and shoulder surgeries. It wasn't entirely smooth sailing for the USA club. Kidd and Bibby led the USA in assists, averaging 5.0 apg. and 6.2 rpg., and Allen finished averaging 10.6 ppg. and 8.0 rpg., Iverson posted 14.3 ppg., while Vince Carter and McGrady each accounted for 12.6 ppg., O'Neal added 11.2 ppg. The USA was led by center Duncan, who averaged team highs of 15.6 ppg. The USA showing in San Juan was a team effort that saw six of the squad's 12 players finish averaging in double digits in scoring. Nash was voted the tournament's Most Valuable Player by the media. Facing Argentina for the second time, this time for the gold medal, Duncan posted 23 points and 14 rebounds as the Americans finished the tournament in spectacular fashion, recording aġ06-73 win to claim the gold and finish 10-0.ĭuncan and USA frontcourt mate O'Neal were both named to the five-member all tournament team, joining Canada's Steve Nash, and Argentina's Adres Nocioni and Emanuel Ginobili.
met Puerto Rico for the second time in three days and the outcome in the semis was very similar to the teams' first meeting as the USA behind 15 points from Ray Allen recorded an 87-71 victory and qualified itself for the 2004 Olympics. Behind identical 16 point efforts from Duncan, the USA closed out second round play with a 96-69 winning effort against Mexico and a 91-65 win over host Puerto RicoĪdvancing to the medal round semifinals, the U.S. senior team's 58-game win streak with an 87-80 win in the 2002 World Championship play, Jermaine O'Neal finished with 22 points and 10 rebounds as the U.S. In the much anticipated game with Argentina, the team that ended the U.S. Opening the second round versus Canada, Iverson scored 28 and shot 10-for-13 from the field and was 7-for-8 from 3-point, making alll seven of his 3-point field goals during the final 7:41 of the third quarter, as the U.S. Allen Iverson led the scoring effort with 17 points in the United States' 113-55 lopsided decision against the Virgin Islands. posted a 111-73 win over the Dominican Republic, and McGrady scored 16 in the USA's 98-69 win against Venezuela. 20 facing South American and Pan American Games champ Brazil and behind 17 points from Tim Duncan and Elton Brand posted a 110-76 victory. The United States got off to an impressive start when it opened preliminary round play on Aug. Olympic Team and who has now compiled a spectacular 43-3 record as a member of USA coaching staffs.
We wanted to go from an all-star team to a team," said USA head coach Larry Brown, who will also serve as head mentor of the 2004 U.S. Show everybody we could play as a team and we could do the things that all the European and international teams do. The 2003 USA Basketball Men's Senior National Team finished a perfect 10-0, won the gold medal at the FIBA Americas Olympic Qualifying Tournament in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and most importantly, qualified the USA men for the 2004 Olympics.Ģ003 FIBA AMERICAS OLYMPIC QUALIFYING FINAL STANDINGS 1.