It’s hard to believe that another four years have already gone by.
As the 2016 Rio Olympics near its final weekend of competition, the United States men’s basketball team has many new faces representing the red, white and blue for the first time in international competition. Behind two returning members of the 2012 Olympic gold-winning team from London (Kevin Durant and Carmelo Anthony), Team USA hopes to capture a third consecutive gold medal while sending Head Coach Mike Krzyzewski into the sunset with another gold.
However, since the last time the United States won gold in men’s basketball, a lot has changed in the world of basketball. Players have either changed teams, won big awards, been named an NBA All-Star and one has already ridden into the sunset.
Let’s take a look back at the 2012 United States men’s Olympic basketball team that won gold four years ago in London and see where they are now four years later.
Guards:
Chris Paul | PG | 27 years old | 6’0 | Los Angeles Clippers | #13
2012: In his first season with the Clippers, Paul’s arrival in Los Angeles rejuvenated the franchise, as he teamed up with fellow All-Star Blake Griffin to lead the team to its first playoff appearance since 2006. Although Los Angeles defeated the Memphis Grizzlies in a hard-fought seven-game first round series, Paul and the Clippers were swept by the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference Semifinals.
Playing behind Jason Kidd off the bench for the 2008 Beijing team, the Wake Forest product was promoted to the starting point guard for the 2012 London games in his third international appearance. As a consummate leader and natural NBA floor-general, Paul’s unselfish play and scoring abilities served as an invaluable asset for Team USA.
In 8 games, Paul averaged 8.2 points per game and led the team with 2.5 steals per game. Paul was second on the team in assists per game with 5.1. In the final game of group play against Argentina, Paul contributed 17 points, 7 assists and 3 steals while shooting 5 of 6 from three.
2016: Over the next four years, Paul, now 31 years old, was named to the NBA All-Star team four times while leading the Clippers to a franchise record fifth consecutive playoff appearance in 2016. However, in the first round of the 2016 NBA playoffs against the Portland Trail Blazers, Paul suffered a broken bone in his right hand in a Game 4 loss.
Without their star player, the Clippers fell to the Trail Blazers in six games, leaving the franchise still seeking their first Western Conference Finals appearance.
Russell Westbrook | PG/SG | 23 years old | Oklahoma City Thunder | #7
2012: As one of the league’s brightest rising stars, Westbrook was selected to make his second All-Star appearance in 2012 and was later named to the All-NBA Second team for the second year in a row. With USA teammates Kevin Durant and James Harden, Westbrook helped lead the young Oklahoma City Thunder to the franchise’s first NBA Finals since the 2008 relocation from Seattle. However, the Thunder fell to the Miami Heat in five games.
In his second consecutive international appearance for the United States after winning gold with the 2010 FIBA World Championship team, Westbrook served as the backup behind Chris Paul, providing athleticism, high energy and strong defensive presence off the bench.
In 8 games, Westbrook averaged 8.5 points per game to go along with 1.6 assists. In the third game of group play against Nigeria, he contributed 21 points on 7 of 8 shooting to go along with 3 steals in 14 minutes.
2016: Despite suffering lingering knee injuries during the 2013-14 and 2014-15 seasons, Westbrook bounced back and proved he was one of the best players in the league with his all-around game. The UCLA product won back-to-back NBA All-Star Game MVP awards in 2015 and 2016 while leading the league with 18 triple-doubles during the 2015-16 season, the most since Magic Johnson back in 1981-82.
Although the Thunder have not reached the NBA Finals since 2012, they made the playoffs three of the next four seasons, missing the playoffs in 2014-15. With a 3-1 series lead over the 2015 champion Golden State Warriors in the 2016 Western Conference Finals, the Thunder lost the series 4-3 to bow out of the playoffs.
With trade speculation surrounding the 5-time All-Star following the off-season departure of Kevin Durant, Westbrook signed a three-year, $85.7 million contract extension in August to stay in Oklahoma City.
Deron Williams | PG/SG | 28 | Brooklyn Nets | #8
2012: Entering his first full season with the New Jersey Nets, Williams had high hopes to lead the Nets to the playoffs for the first time since 2007. However, with Brook Lopez on the sidelines with a broken foot, the Nets struggled mightily, but Williams was selected as a reserve for the All-Star game. After the All-Star break, Williams scored a franchise-high 57 points against the Charlotte Bobcats (now Hornets) in March, but an ankle injury caused him to miss the last five games of the 2011-12 season as the Nets missed the playoffs for the fifth consecutive year. During the off-season, Williams signed a five-year, $98.7 million deal to remain with the Nets.
In his third appearance for Team USA, second in the Olympics, Williams split backup combo guard duties with Russell Westbrook as a versatile playmaker and shooter in the backcourt.
In 8 games, Williams averaged 9.0 points per game and was third on the team in assists per game with 4.6. In the quarterfinals against Australia, Williams scored 18 points, going 7 of 7 from the free throw line.
2016: After four roller-coaster seasons with the Nets organization, the three-time All-Star received a buyout from the final two seasons of his contract in 2015, allowing him to sign as a free agent with his hometown Dallas Mavericks a few days later. In his first season with the Mavericks in 2015-16, Williams battled minor injuries while splitting time on the starting lineup and off the bench. Despite all the inconsistency, the 11-year NBA veteran re-signed with Dallas on a one-year, $10 million deal.
Kobe Bryant | SG/SF | 33 | Los Angeles Lakers | #10
2012: In his sixteenth NBA season, Bryant, despite battling through a handful of injuries, finished second in points per game (27.9 ppg) behind Kevin Durant and led the Lakers to its fifth straight Pacific Division title, good for the third seed in the Western Conference playoffs. After defeating the Denver Nuggets in a thrilling seven-game first round series, the Lakers were knocked out of the playoffs by the eventual Western Conference champion Oklahoma City Thunder in the semifinals.
In his third appearance for Team USA, Bryant rejoined the national team for the 2012 Summer Olympics after a stellar run for the gold medal during the 2008 Olympics (see gold medal game against Spain). As the oldest member on the team, Bryant returned as the starting shooting guard alongside Chris Paul, giving the team a lethal offensive weapon with killer mentality and a leader for the team.
In 8 games, Bryant averaged 12.1 ppg and 1.1 steals per game, both good for fourth best on the team. In the quarterfinal game against Australia, Bryant put up 20 points on 6 of 10 shooting from three-point range.
2016: After three consecutive seasons cut short by injuries (2013: torn Achilles tendon in left leg, 2014: lateral tibial plateau fracture in left knee, 2015: torn rotator cuff in right shoulder), the 37-year-old Bryant announced in November 2015 that the 2015-16 season (his twentieth in the NBA) would be his last. In the middle of a farewell tour, Bryant was selected to his 18th All-Star Game after being the leading vote-getter and played in his first All-Star Game since 2013. The Lakers would miss the playoffs for the third consecutive season, but Bryant went out with a performance for the ages, pouring a season-high 60 points in his final NBA game in a 101-96 comeback victory over the Utah Jazz on April 13th.
James Harden | SG | 22 | Oklahoma City Thunder | #12
2012: Following a breakout season where he led all NBA reserves by averaging 16.8 points per game off the bench, Harden was named as the NBA Sixth Man of the Year, becoming the second youngest player ever to win the award. Alongside Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, Harden helped the Oklahoma City Thunder reach the 2012 NBA Finals, where they lost to the Miami Heat.
In his first appearance for Team USA, Harden provided the Americans with a floor spacer, a crafty playmaker and a deadeye from behind the three-point arc.
In 8 games, Harden averaged 5.5 points per game in limited minutes. In the second game of group play against Tunisia, Harden scored 10 points on 4 of 7 shooting.
2016: Following the Olympics, Harden was traded to the Houston Rockets after contract extension talks failed with the Thunder. As a foundational player for the Rockets, the Arizona State product blossomed from a sixth man into an All-NBA caliber starter. After finishing second in MVP voting behind Golden State’s Stephen Curry in 2015, Harden recorded career-highs with 29.0 ppg and 7.5 apg while leading the Rockets to the playoffs with the eighth seed in the Western Conference. Despite Harden’s best efforts in the first round against the Golden State Warriors, the Rockets were outmatched and went on to lose the series in five games.
In July 2016, Harden signed a four-year, $118.1 million contract extension to stay with the Rockets, making him one of the highest-paid NBA players for the 2016-17 season.
Forwards:
Andre Iguodala | SF | 28 | Philadelphia 76ers | #9
2012: In his eighth season with the Philadelphia 76ers, Iguodala evolved from a defensive specialist into an all-around player. With the Sixers leading the Atlantic Division, Iguodala was selected to his first All-Star Game as a reserve and eventually helped Philadelphia clinch the final seed in the Eastern Conference. In the first round of the 2012 playoffs, the Sixers were matched up against the top-seeded Chicago Bulls, but Philadelphia managed to upset the Bulls in six games en route to the franchise’s first playoff series win since 2003. Although Iguodala and the Sixers pushed the Boston Celtics to a thrilling seven games, they were eliminated in the Conference Semifinals.
In his second consecutive international appearance for the United States, Iguodala displayed his exceptional defensive ability for Team USA with his long wingspan and athleticism.
In 8 games, Iguodala averaged 4.3 points per game and was fourth in rebounds with 4.0 rebounds per game in limited minutes. In the final game of group play against Argentina, Iguodala had a near double-double with 13 points and 9 rebounds.
2016: After being dealt to the Denver Nuggets in a four-team deal with the Los Angeles Lakers and Orlando Magic during the Olympics, Iguodala signed a four-year, $48 million deal with the Golden State Warriors the following off-season. With the Warriors, the Arizona product became a reserve for the first time in his career, but captured All-Defensive First Team honors in 2014 and the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player award in 2015 while leading the franchise to its first NBA championship in 40 years. In a rematch of the 2015 Finals with the Cleveland Cavaliers the following season, Iguodala helped the Warriors go up 3-1 in the series, but they went on to lose in seven games.
Kevin Durant | SF/PF | 23 | Oklahoma City Thunder | #5
2012: in his fifth season with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Durant had a remarkable season where he was awarded his first NBA All-Star Game MVP Award, finished the season with his third straight scoring title and leading the Thunder to the second seed in the Western Conference. On the way to the NBA Finals, the Thunder would defeat the Dallas Mavericks, the Los Angeles Lakers and the San Antonio Spurs before losing to the Miami Heat in the Finals. Throughout the Finals, Durant led all players with 30.6 points per game on 54.8% shooting.
In his second consecutive international appearance for Team USA, Durant followed up his 2010 FIBA World Championship MVP performance with a record-setting performance at the 2012 Olympics. With his shooting abilities, ideal skill set and size, the first-time Olympian provided an offensive punch for the Americans, setting the record for total points scored (156) in an Olympic basketball tournament.
In 8 games, Durant led the team with 19.5 points per game and was second in rebounds with 5.8 per game. He was also second in steals with 1.6 and fourth in assists with 2.6. In the gold medal game against Spain, Durant led the Americans with 30 points and 9 rebounds to help Team USA clinch back-to-back gold medals.
2016: Following his remarkable 2011-12 campaign, Durant continued to put up historic numbers, becoming the youngest player in the NBA to join the 50-40-90 club by shooting 51 percent overall, 41.6 percent from three and 90.5 percent from the free throw line. The following year, Durant was voted the NBA Most Valuable Player by averaging 32 points per game, 7.4 rebounds and 5.5 assists. However, he struggled to bring the Thunder back to the NBA Finals, as the Thunder surrendered a 3-1 lead in the 2016 Western Conference Finals and were eliminated by the Golden State Warriors.
During the off-season, the seven-time All-Star was the most coveted player on the free agent market. In July, he decided to leave Oklahoma City and signed a two-year, $54.3 million contract with the Golden State Warriors, which led to negative reception by the public.
LeBron James | SF/PF | 27 | Miami Heat | #6
2012: After a humbling loss to the Dallas Mavericks in the 2011 NBA Finals, James’s second season with the Heat was one of redemption. With help from fellow All-Stars Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, the Heat matched the best start to a season in franchise history en route to the 2nd seed in the Eastern Conference. James was named MVP for the third time in his career and helped the Heat overcome elimination against the Celtics in the Conference Finals. In Game 5 of the NBA Finals, James registered a triple-double to lead the Heat to it’s second-ever championship and his first NBA championship. He was also unanimously voted as the NBA Finals MVP.
In his fifth international appearance and third consecutive Olympic Games representing the United States, James provided a bit of everything on both the offensive and defensive side. With Kobe Bryant taking a step back, “The King” facilitated the offense and served as the vocal leader of the team.
In 8 games, James averaged 13.3 points per game, 5.6 rebounds per game and 1.4 steals per game, all good for third on the team. He did, however, lead the team in assists with 5.6 and recorded the first triple-double in U.S. Olympic basketball history with 11 points, 14 rebounds and 12 assists during the quarterfinals against Austrailia.
2016: After winning back-to back regular season MVP awards, Finals MVP awards and NBA championships in 2011-12 and 2012-13, James led the Heat back to the NBA Finals in 2013-14, but lost to the San Antonio Spurs in five games. As a free agent during the 2014 off-season, James rejoined the Cavaliers and led the franchise to back-to-back NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors. Although the Cavaliers lost in 2015, James helped deliver Cleveland its first professional sports title in 52 years while capturing his third Finals MVP award.
In August 2016, James re-signed with the Cavaliers on a three-year, $100 million deal, making him the highest paid player in the league.
Carmelo Anthony | SF/PF | 28 | New York Knicks | #15
2012: The 2011-12 season held great expectations for Anthony and the Knicks, as it would be his first full season with the organization. However, the Knicks struggled with injuries all throughout the season. Anthony missed 11 games in February 2012, leading to the rise of Jeremy Lin in a period of basketball hysteria known as “Linsanity.” Despite the sub-.500 start for the Knicks in the early going of the season, the team finished 18-6 under interim coach Mike Woodson following Mike D’Antoni’s resignation as head coach, which qualified for the seventh seed. Although the Knicks lost many important players due to injury including Lin and All-Star Amar’e Stoudemire, Anthony was able to lead the Knicks to the franchise’s first playoff win since 2001, scoring 41 points in the process. However, the team was eliminated in five games to the eventual champion Miami Heat, but Anthony was named to the All-NBA Third Team.
Also making his fifth international appearance and third consecutive Olympic Games for Team USA, Anthony provided the team with all-around offensive talent and flashed his ability as one of the best scorers in the NBA.
In 8 games, Anthony averaged 16.3 points and 4.8 rebounds per game as the team’s sixth man. During the group stage play against Nigeria, he set a U.S. Olympic record for points in a game with 37 and a record for made and attempted 3-point shots, connecting on 10 in 12 attempts.
2016: Since Anthony led the Knicks to its first playoff victory since 2001, the team only made the playoffs the next season reaching the Eastern Conference Semifinals after defeating the Boston Celtics in the opening round. However, they would be eliminated from contention by the Indiana Pacers in six games. During the 2013-14 season, Anthony established his career high, the Knicks’ franchise record and the Madison Square Garden record for single-game scoring with a 62 point effort against the Charlotte Bobcats. Later in the off-season, he opted out of his contract and re-signed with the team to a five-year, $124 million deal.
In 2016, he was voted as a starter for the ninth time in his career, but the Knicks missed the playoffs in back-to-back years since 2009-10.
Kevin Love | PF/C | 23 | Minnesota Timberwolves | #11
2012: As one of the young rising stars in the NBA, Love was one of the premier double-double machines. As the go-to player for the Timberwolves, Love was named to his second All-Star appearance and participated in the Three-Point shootout, defeating Kevin Durant to capture the NBA Three-Point Shootout title during All-Star weekend. During the season, the UCLA product was named to the All-NBA second team and finished sixth in MVP voting, but missed the playoffs after finishing with the Western Conference’s fourth worst record.
In his second consecutive international appearance for the United States, Love was highly counted on to be the team’s frontcourt presence with Dwight Howard and Chris Bosh absent from the competition. He provided ideal skill sets for the international game with an ability to knock down long-distance shots as a big man and clean up the glass with his extraordinary rebounding skills.
In 8 games, Love averaged 11.6 points per game and led the team with 7.6 rebounds per game. He recorded a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds in the quarterfinal match against Australia.
2016: After missing significant time dealing with a broken hand during the 2012-13 season, Love rebounded well the following season on his way to All-NBA Second team honors in 2014. Later that summer, the Timberwolves traded him to the Cleveland Cavaliers, teaming him up with LeBron James and Kyrie Irving. The Cavaliers would make the Finals in 2015, but Love missed the rest of the season after suffering a dislocated shoulder in Game 4 of the first round.
In July 2015, the three-time All-Star re-signed with the Cavaliers and helped lead the team to the first seed in the Eastern Conference. Cleveland swept the Detroit Pistons and the Atlanta Hawks in the first and second rounds before defeating the Toronto Raptors in six games in the Conference Finals, leading up to a rematch against Golden State. In Game 7 of the NBA Finals, Love managed 9 points and 14 rebounds to help the Cavaliers win the series for his first NBA Championship.
Anthony Davis | PF/C | 19 | New Orleans Hornets | #14
2012: Coming off a one-and-done season at Kentucky where he was named the SEC Player of the Year and won the national championship tile, Davis declared for the 2012 NBA Draft, where he was selected by the New Orleans Hornets with the first overall pick. However, following injuries to Blake Griffin, Chris Bosh and LaMarcus Aldridge, Davis was added as a replacement by Team USA executive director Jerry Colangelo.
As the youngest player on the roster, the 19-year-old became the first American since Emeka Okafor in 2004 to compete in the Olympics without any prior NBA experience. For the Olympic rookie, it was the first time he competed internationally, but he provided youth, athleticism and strong post defense for a team lacking size.
Playing in 7 of 8 games, Davis averaged 3.7 points and 2.7 rebounds per game in very limited minutes. In group play against Tunisia, Davis recorded 12 points on 5/5 shooting in 14 minutes of action.
2016: Entering his fourth season in the NBA, Davis has become one of the biggest MVP candidates with his strong defensive play. In 2013-14 and 2014-15, Davis led the league in blocks with 2.8 and 2.9 respectively and finished 4th in the Defensive Player of the Year Award voting and 5th in the MVP Award voting in 2015. Now 23-years-old, he was named to his third NBA All-Star team and participated in the All-Star Weekend Skills Challenge. A few days later, he scored a franchise-record 59 points to go along with 20 rebounds against the Detroit Pistons. However, the Pelicans missed the playoffs and Davis was ruled out for the rest of the season in March following a left knee injury and a torn labrum in his left shoulder.
Center:
Tyson Chandler | C | 29 | New York Knicks | #4
2012: After winning the NBA Championship with the Mavericks in his lone season with the team, he was dealt to the New York Knicks in a sign-and-trade deal. During the season, Chandler anchored the Knicks defense and led the league with the third highest field goal percentage (67.9%) in NBA history, surpassed only by Wilt Chamberlain in 1967 (68.27%) and 1973 (72.7%). With his strong defensive presence, Chandler won the 2012 Defensive Player of the Year Award over Oklahoma City’s Serge Ibaka, becoming the first ever Knick to win the award. Despite winning the Defensive Player of the Year Award, he was named to the All-Defensive Second Team behind Dwight Howard and Ibaka.
In his third international appearance for the United States, Chandler was selected as the team’s starting center. As the only true center on the team, Chandler was still able to anchor the team’s defense and dominate the rebounds despite the Americans sticking with a smaller lineup.
In 8 games, Chandler averaged 4.0 points and 4.0 rebounds per game. In the first game of group play against France, Chandler had a near double-double with 8 points and 9 rebounds in only 10 minutes of action.
2016: Following his successful first season with the New York Knicks, Chandler was named to his first All-Star game as a reserve in 2013. However, he would be traded back to Dallas in 2014, reuniting with teammates Dirk Nowitzki and J. J. Barea and head coach Rick Carlisle, who were all part of the championship team with the Mavericks during the 2010-11 season. Chandler managed to average a double-double with 10.3 points and 11.5 rebounds per game while playing in the most games since his last stint in Dallas.
Entering his 15th season in the NBA, Chandler signed a four-year, $52 million deal with the Phoenix Suns in July 2015. Although he battled a hamstring injury early on, the now 33-year-old serves as a mentor for a young Suns team.
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Arthur Puu
Spark Sports Editor
Follow Arthur Puu on Twitter @arthurpuu
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