The 2008 Redeem Team wasn’t just a group of basketball stars—it was a mission to restore pride. After a shocking bronze finish in 2004, Team USA had something to prove at the Beijing Olympics. Led by Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and others, they dominated every game. With an 8-0 record and a thrilling final win over Spain, they brought gold back home. That summer wasn’t just about winning—it was about redemption, unity, and rewriting a legacy.

Recently, that legacy received its highest honor yet. The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame announced the 2025 inductees, and the Redeem Team made the cut. For the first time, a full Olympic basketball squad earned a Hall of Fame nod as a group. Stars like Carmelo Anthony and Dwight Howard are being inducted twice: individually and with the team. It’s a celebration nearly 17 years in the making. But it’s also a reminder of what that team truly meant.

Dwyane Wade shared his thoughts on The Timeout, saying, “Obviously our brother Kobe is not here—we’ve already lost a member.” That reality made the honor hit deeper. “We don’t spend time together… to be able to be together now means everything.” Wade continued, “I’m glad they did it now because tomorrow and the day after is not promised.” This moment, he explained, is about more than recognition. “We want to celebrate with those who brought the U.S. back to its prominence.” 

Wade also talked about how the recognition caught him off guard. “We won our gold medal, and that’s it for me. I’m thinking, that’s it,” he said. “I never thought about we would be Hall of Fame as a Redeem Team, as a team.” He admitted it was something he only imagined happening to individuals, not an entire squad. “You don’t really think about it as a team,” he said. “And so to get that call and to say, hey, you guys are in as the ‘08 Redeem Team—I mean, yeah, that’s going to be incredible.” Reflecting on the journey, he said it’s surreal to witness something they built almost 20 years ago still getting honored.

Wade’s words capture just how deeply the Redeem Team’s legacy has endured—far beyond what even its own members imagined. But the impact of that 2008 squad wasn’t felt only within Team USA’s locker room. On the other side of that unforgettable gold medal clash, Pau Gasol had his own vivid memories of the night his team nearly pulled off the unthinkable.

Pau Gasol reflecting on facing the Redeem Team in an all-time Olympic classic

Back in January, as the Redeem Team’s Hall of Fame news made waves, Pau Gasol shared his own memories of that iconic final. The 2008 Olympic gold medal game wasn’t just a fight for glory—it was basketball at its highest level. Spain wasn’t expected to hang with the Redeem Team, but they nearly shocked the world. Gasol, proud of their effort, called the game “one of the best basketball games in the history of the Games.”

Spain had been demolished by Team USA in group play, but the final was a different story. “I remember it being a huge fight. Very competitive and very physical throughout. We pushed them to have to play their best,” Gasol said.

“We gave them a run for their money.” Despite Kobe Bryant and Dwyane Wade stepping up late, Spain pushed them to the limit. Even years later, Gasol said people still tell him that game was one of their greatest sports memories.

Comparisons between the Dream Team and the Redeem Team are common. For Gasol, the 2008 squad deserves just as much love. “Kobe came and they brought their ‘A’ Team,” he said. “I think that was probably as good or better than the original Dream Team.” That final didn’t just decide a gold medal: it cemented a legacy.