The indelible image of the “Redeem Team” is rightfully Kobe Bryant, with a finger pressed to his lips, demanding silence. This defiant gesture, following a crucial four-point play in the gold medal match, was rich in symbolism. While his fervent Chinese supporters already roared, Kobe sought to quell the notion that American basketball dominance on the global stage had waned.
This iconic moment will be highlighted during the formal induction of the 2008 U.S. men`s Olympic team into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts, this weekend. Bryant`s crucial 13 points in the fourth quarter, particularly the four-point play that decisively wounded Spain`s hopes, are fundamental to the team`s legendary status.
The tangible theme of that summer was redemption, as Team USA sought to overcome the profound shame of their bronze medal finish at the 2004 Athens Olympics and the subsequent four years of disappointment. For Bryant, this induction also marks a personal posthumous redemption, given the context of his career at that time. Although Bryant`s memory will deservedly be central to the team`s celebration, the Redeem Team`s narrative extends far beyond a single quarter or even that single summer.
Their gold medal was the culmination of an arduous journey, with many of its Hall of Fame-honored members bearing the marks of their struggles as much as the fruits of their immense effort.
The Road to Redemption: Rebuilding Team USA
In July 2006, following his inaugural practice as the new Team USA coach, Mike Krzyzewski made a significant tactical declaration. This occurred at UNLV in Las Vegas, the squad`s new base under the leadership of Jerry Colangelo, who had assumed the roles of program savior and executive director. Colangelo had secured assurances of complete roster authority and a substantially larger budget, a commitment then-NBA commissioner David Stern had made to entice the veteran executive.
Krzyzewski and Colangelo had previously embarked on a tour, balancing attentive listening with clear pronouncements. They consistently articulated their commitment to respecting the international game and acknowledging its growing threat to American dominance, evidenced by the 2004 Athens Olympics and the 2002 World Championships where the U.S. 59-game international winning streak concluded with a sixth-place finish. They pledged reverence for the rules, opposing players, and the sport`s style. Yet, immediately after his first coaching session, Krzyzewski emphatically stated, “Anyone who knows anything about me knows that I do not play zone.”
Krzyzewski, having been taught fierce man-to-man defense by Bobby Knight at West Point, and his Duke teams of the 1990s, were not known for zone schemes. However, this stance seemed to contradict his stated commitment to embracing the international game, where zone defense had proven effective for European teams for years.
By 2007, Team USA returned to UNLV, facing the necessity of winning the FIBA AmeriCup to secure their Olympic qualification. The summer of 2006 had culminated in another setback, as a reorganized Team USA was defeated by Greece in the World Championships, their defense dismantled by fundamental pick-and-roll plays. Similar to 2004, they returned home with bronze medals, promptly forgotten. Remarkably, on the very first possession of their opening game against Venezuela in 2007, Krzyzewski`s team deployed a zone defense.
While this moment isn`t celebrated like Bryant`s decisive three-pointer, Dwyane Wade`s iconic alley-oop in Beijing, or a powerful LeBron James dunk, these early struggles and adaptations were crucial to the team`s development long before their journey to China.
Four members of the Redeem Team being inducted into the Hall of Fame this weekend possess a unique perspective on this arduous path: Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, and Carlos Boozer, all of whom experienced the crushing bronze medal finish in 2004 that signaled the end of Team USA`s prior Olympic supremacy. None of these players saw significant minutes, a point of contention for then-coach Larry Brown in the aftermath, and all found the experience deeply unsatisfying.
“Sitting on the podium, receiving that bronze medal, I felt it was a complete waste of my time,” James recounted in the “Redeem Team” documentary. He added, “At that moment, I was certain I wouldn`t play for Team USA again.”
Dwight Howard, Chris Bosh, and Chris Paul, who would later earn gold in 2008, also joined Anthony, James, and Wade on the 2006 squad in Japan for the World Championships, an event intended to mark a return to winning form. These players were among those who responded to Colangelo`s call for a multi-summer commitment to the national team. For James and Anthony, this commitment meant sacrificing significant portions of their summers for four of their first five NBA seasons.
Instead of the anticipated success, the 2006 team was exposed by Greece, who effectively exploited weaknesses in the American roster. Despite their abundance of star talent and coaching, Team USA appeared powerless to counteract these issues. While some progress and team cohesion may have been achieved, the overall sentiment remained dismal.
“When we lost to Greece, I swear to you, we didn`t want to come home,” Paul shared in “Basketball: A Love Story.” “Honestly, we really didn`t want to come home. It was one of the most painful losses I`ve ever experienced.”
The true turning point for Team USA`s eventual 2008 gold medal run might have occurred outside Tokyo. The day after their defeat by Greece, the team found themselves trailing Manu Ginobili`s Argentina, the reigning 2004 Olympic champions who had previously beaten the U.S. en route to their gold. At a juncture where Team USA could have easily succumbed, a pattern observed during their international struggles from 2002 until that very day, the players instead rallied. They decisively turned the game around, securing a victory and partially avenging their Olympic defeat to Argentina. This win ignited a dominant streak that would persist for over a decade.
Wade, James, and Anthony collectively scored 69 points, and on the spot, committed to returning the following summer (though Wade was ultimately sidelined by injury) to qualify for the Olympics, a feat they had failed to achieve in Japan. Despite their profound disappointment, they remained resolute.
Kobe`s Defining Leadership and the Beijing Gold
In the intense 2008 Beijing gold medal game, the seasoned Spanish team narrowed the gap to just two points against the Americans in the fourth quarter, prompting Krzyzewski to call a timeout. The legendary coach later reflected that, despite the collective NBA championships, college titles, MVPs, and immense wealth present in that huddle, it was likely the most nerve-wracking moment many of them had faced in their careers. While Krzyzewski had remarks prepared, Bryant asserted control of the situation.
“Many players out there are nervous,” Bryant recalled in the documentary. “I know they`re feeling the pressure far more than I am. But I know I`m ready.”
Bryant`s subsequent performance on the court is etched in history, a display of leadership that earned the lasting appreciation of everyone involved with the program. Yet, while it was arguably the most memorable moment, it may not have been the most fundamentally defining one. Nor was the most defining moment Bryant`s actions in an earlier Olympic pool play game against Spain. He astonished his teammates by declaring in the locker room before the game that he knew Spain`s opening play and intended to intentionally collide with his friend and Lakers teammate, Pau Gasol, to underscore his commitment. True to his word, he sent a stunned Gasol to the floor with a scowl just seconds after tipoff.
However, Bryant`s true leadership campaign arguably commenced the previous summer, when the Americans were compelled to win the FIBA AmeriCup to secure their Olympic qualification. Bryant`s exemplary conduct became legendary within USA Basketball. During the pre-tournament training camp, he famously ensured he was in the hotel lobby as teammates returned from late-night Vegas outings, allowing them to witness him heading to the gym for a pre-dawn workout.
During this period, LeBron James, fresh from his first NBA Finals appearance and eager to evolve as a leader, closely observed Bryant`s routines and leadership style. James later credited this experience with helping him develop his own leadership voice and work ethic, a legacy that USA Basketball continues to leverage. Soon, James joined Bryant in these early sessions, and other teammates followed suit. James himself led the 2024 Team USA to its fifth consecutive Olympic gold in Paris, 16 years after the streak began. He set a fiercely serious and intense tone during their training camp, once again in Las Vegas. In many respects, this enduring commitment and approach can be traced back to Bryant`s influence and the standard established in 2007.
A Lasting Legacy: Hall of Fame Honors and Continued Dominance
Carmelo Anthony and Dwight Howard are honored twice this week in Springfield, recognized for both their distinguished playing careers and their pivotal roles in securing the Beijing gold. They join Kobe Bryant, Jason Kidd, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh as the fifth and sixth members of the 2008 team inducted into the Hall for their individual achievements. LeBron James and Chris Paul, remarkably still active in the NBA past the age of 40, are making history as the first active players to receive this induction.
Coach Krzyzewski and Jerry Colangelo have both been honored, as has Redeem Team assistant coach Jim Boeheim. Boeheim, having achieved three Olympic golds and two World Cup golds alongside Krzyzewski, ultimately played a role in convincing Krzyzewski to incorporate significant zone defense at Duke. In total, the Redeem Team stands as one of history`s most decorated squads; only the 1992 Dream Team, with its 11 Hall of Famers, remains unparalleled.
Its place in basketball history is undeniably secure, with its influence evident in the Olympic gold medals won in London (2012), Rio (2016), Tokyo (2021), and Paris (last year). This extensive run of success, while impressive, can sometimes diminish the appreciation for individual achievements when viewed as a whole. This celebration aims to properly acknowledge its unique impact, emphasizing that the Redeem Team`s indelible legacy began long before, and extended well beyond, the year 2008.
“As the gold medals were presented in Beijing, with `The Star-Spangled Banner` playing and the flag ascending, it felt like a moment of absolute completion,” Colangelo remarked upon the Hall of Fame announcement earlier this year. He added, “Rarely does one get to devise a strategy, witness its perfect execution, and achieve the desired outcome. That`s precisely what occurred, setting our USA Basketball team on a path to numerous gold medals over the past two decades.”