The United States men's national basketball team is the representative for the United States of America in international men's basketball. Considered the best national basketball team in the world, team USA is historically the most successful team in international competition, medaling in all fifteen Olympic tournaments it has entered, coming away with twelve golds.

Traditionally composed of amateur players, a 1989 rule change by FIBA allowed USA Basketball to field teams with professional players. The "Dream Team" won the gold medal at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain. That team is often regarded as the greatest collection of talent on one team in basketball history.

With the introduction of professionals, Team USA was able to spark a second run of dominance after capturing only a bronze medal in 1988. A team of professional players competed in the 1994 Basketball World Championships, finishing first. In 1996 and 2000, Team USA once again captured gold medals.

However, Team USA's renewed dominance has lessened recent years. Facing increased competition from international teams, helped in no small way by the expansion of basketball sparked by the 1992 Dream Team, the USA failed to win a medal at the 2002 World Championship, finishing sixth. The 2004 Summer Olympic team lost three games on its way to a bronze medal, a record that represented more losses in a single year than the country's Olympic teams had suffered in all previous Olympiads combined.

Determined to put an end to these recent failures, USA Basketball has changed its philosophy and has looked to field complete teams instead of piecing together rosters of NBA All-Stars at the last minute. Team USA won their first seven games at the 2006 World Championships in Japan, struggling against Greece in the semi-finals. After coming away with a bronze, Team USA is still striving to recapture international gold.