1936 marked the first time men’s basketball was an official Olympic sport. (Women’s basketball would make its Olympic debut 40 years later at the 1976 Summer Olympics.) Thanks to star players like Bill Russell, Michael Jordan and LeBron James, the U.S. has consistently dominated the competition, scoring a total of 16 gold medals in the sport — more than any other country.
What players wear on the court is often as important as the game itself. See how Team USA men’s basketball uniforms at the Olympics have evolved over the years, from silky short shorts to Air Jordans.
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1956
Basketball shorts used to be a lot shorter — just take it from Russell, who played for the U.S. at the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne, Australia. Team uniforms consisted of striped silk shorts and ringer tank tops baring each player’s number, a notable diversion from later jerseys, which typically have “USA” logos on the front.
As was customary of many players at the time, the U.S. team wore Converse high-tops. They would go on to win gold at the 1956 Games.
1984
For the 1984 Olympics, basketball jerseys and matching shorts came in three different colorways: red, white and blue, no less. As shown above on Wayman Tisdale, the jerseys featured “USA” and each player’s number on the front, with larger digits displayed on the back.
A pair of striped tube socks and Converse Fastbreak sneakers completed the uniform. The U.S. basketball team took home gold once again at the Los Angeles Games.
1992
1992 marked the first Olympics where NBA players were allowed to compete. The “Dream Team” consisted of legendary players like Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird, who would score the U.S. another gold medal for basketball in Barcelona.
Champion was tasked with creating the team’s uniforms, which came in both white and navy. Mesh jerseys and shorts were emblazoned with “USA Basketball” logos and included striping down the sides. As shoe sponsorships for NBA stars became more prevalent, players wore styles from a variety of brands including Nike, Converse, LA Gear and Avia.
1996
Champion returned to design Team USA Basketball’s Olympic uniforms for the 1996 Games. This time, jerseys were printed with funky graphics characteristic of the decade — rather than block letters, the “USA” logo was written in script and placed beside small basketball motifs.
Stars decorated the sides of both jerseys and shorts, adding patriotic flairs to the red, white and blue uniform. In Atlanta, the U.S. basketball team won gold for the 11th time.
2004
In 2004, Reebok dreamed up three uniform colorways for Team USA Basketball at the Athens Olympics. The red, white and blue outfits featured striped panels as well as a basketball and star logo on the shorts.
Most of the team sported various styles of Nike’s iconic Jordan sneaker, though Allen Iverson, pictured above, selected Reebok kicks. In a surprising upset, the U.S. took home bronze medals at the Athens Games.
2012
Described by Nike as the company’s “lightest ever” Hyper Elite uniforms, Team USA Basketball wore white jerseys and shorts made from recycled polyester at the 2012 London Games. This time the “USA” logo was more angular, featuring sharp rather than rounded edges.
The back of each jersey was printed with a gradient American flag, while a red “swoosh” and a small red, white and blue basketball motif decorated the shorts. Nike also provided footwear for the team, who once again scored gold at the Olympics.
2024
Nike is once again outfitting Team USA at the Olympics. In Paris, the troupe will wear striped navy jerseys and shorts with red accents and white accents. Most of the team will sport Nike sneakers, but some players are opting for kicks by New Balance and Skechers.
