Overall, LeBron James has been proclaimed one of the best in basketball history. The Cavaliers drafted him as the first overall pick in 2003; the rest is history. He wore the iconic 23 jersey in the NBA, won Rookie of the Year, and also won a bronze medal in the 2004 Olympics. That year was the beginning of his professional journey with the league and his country’s national team, too!

Diana Taurasi, often called the “White Mamba”, is the powerhouse of women’s basketball. She clinched the Naismith Award in 2000, later leading UConn to 3 NCAA Division I Women’s National Championships from 2001 to 2004. Phoenix Mercury drafted Taurasi as the 1st overall pick in the 2004 WNBA draft because she was so exceptional and she’s gone on to win 3 league titles ever since.

Now, coming to the Olympics, both legends have bagged silverware. Lebron James has won 2 Olympic Gold medals- in the 2008 London Olympics Games and the 2012 Beijing Olympics. Whereas, Diana Taurasi holds the record for the most Olympic titles in US basketball history, winning 5 consecutive Golds with Team USA at Athens 2004, Beijing 2008, London 2012, Rio 2016, and Tokyo 2020.

So, when we compare both for their number of Olympic Golds, the difference is obvious and glaring. Over the 5 editions Taurasi has appeared in, she’s averaged 10.9 points, alongside 3 boards, and nearly 3 assists. She’s also managed to keep a healthy 44.8% shooting from deep. On the other hand, on the men’s side, LeBron James ranks first in assists and third in points overall. He’s averaged just under 14.4 points per game, 4.1 rebounds, and 3.5 assists, over the years.

All in all, these two legends were only able to thrive consistently with a lethal supporting cast around them. At the end of the day, basketball is a team sport. Let’s dive into some USA Basketball history, briefly, along with some trivia.

Team USA and how they’ve fared in the Olympics over generations

The St. Louis 1904 Olympic Games marked the debut of basketball as a demonstration sport, with only American teams participating. It became an official part of the Olympics at the Berlin 1936 Olympic Games. On the other hand, Women’s basketball finally made it in 1976, 40 years later.

The U.S. men’s basketball team has taken home 16 Gold medals, out of a possible 20, including the last four! Apart from the 1980 boycott, they’ve won medals in every Olympics. That makes them the country with the most men’s Gold medals in Olympic history, with 19! In the 2024 edition, this star-studded men’s team will be striving to win its 5th consecutive one.

Since 1976, the U.S. women’s basketball team has won 9 out of a possible 12 Gold medals, displaying sheer dominance too. They have consistently clinched Gold, apart from a Silver in 1976 and a Bronze in 1992. So, putting things into the current context, in the 2024 Paris Olympics, the women will strive for their 8th straight Gold medal.

Now, presenting to you a bit of trivia.

The title for most Gold medals in men’s basketball goes to Carmelo Anthony. In men’s basketball, Anthony is the only athlete to have competed in the Olympics 4 times and won Gold back-to-back in 2008, 2012, and 2016. Melo was also on the bronze-medal-winning team in 2004 after his rookie NBA season, combining to make him the all-time leader in men’s basketball Olympic medals with 4.

This could change in 2024.

Kevin Durant could become the first men’s player with 4, and that too, consecutive Gold medals! If KD and Team USA win gold, Durant will surpass Anthony as the Olympics’ Gold-medal leader in men’s basketball. If Team USA makes it to the podium, Durant will match Anthony’s medal record in the sport.

However, do all these records really matter, as long as Team USA brings home that Gold medal?