The 2016 USA basketball team was an assemblage of the greatest names in the NBA, among them. Team USA’s 8-0 record run was led by Kevin Durant, Carmelo Anthony and Kyrie Irving, who prevailed over Serbia 96-66 in the gold medal match. The team had a lot of great points, a lot of big guys and some guys who could find the back of the net in a variety of ways.
The Rio team was also a mix of veteran Olympians and Olympic newcomers. The only player on the team with three Olympic gold medals was Carmelo Anthony, who became the first U.S. men’s basketball player to win three Olympic gold medals. Kevin Durant also won a second gold medal in this Olympic Games.
The 2016 team is one of the most familiar squads in recent Team USA history for basketball enthusiasts.
Quick Answer: Who Was On The 2016 USA Basketball Team?
The 2016 USA men’s Olympic basketball team had 12 players: Carmelo Anthony, Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, Klay Thompson, Paul George, DeMarcus Cousins, DeAndre Jordan, Jimmy Butler, Kyle Lowry, Draymond Green, DeMar DeRozan and Harrison Barnes.
Mike Krzyzewski coached the team. Anthony was the captain. The U.S. won all eight matches in Rio, and led the tournament.
2016 USA Basketball Team Roster
| Player | Position | NBA team in 2016 | Olympic GP | PPG |
| Kevin Durant | Forward | Oklahoma City Thunder | 8 | 19.4 |
| Carmelo Anthony | Forward | New York Knicks | 8 | 12.1 |
| Kyrie Irving | Guard | Cleveland Cavaliers | 8 | 11.4 |
| Paul George | Forward | Indiana Pacers | 8 | 11.3 |
| Klay Thompson | Guard | Golden State Warriors | 8 | 9.9 |
| DeMarcus Cousins | Center | Sacramento Kings | 8 | 9.1 |
| DeAndre Jordan | Center | LA Clippers | 8 | 7.4 |
| DeMar DeRozan | Guard | Toronto Raptors | 7 | 6.6 |
| Jimmy Butler | Guard/Forward | Chicago Bulls | 8 | 5.6 |
| Kyle Lowry | Guard | Toronto Raptors | 8 | 5.0 |
| Harrison Barnes | Forward | Golden State Warriors | 4 | 4.3 |
| Draymond Green | Forward | Golden State Warriors | 8 | 1.9 |
Statistics are based on the team’s performance during the Olympics in 2016. Kevin Durant scored the leading point average for the USA at 19.4 points per game.
Insertable Structured Bio Table
| Field | Details |
| Team name | United States men’s national basketball team |
| Common name | 2016 Team USA basketball |
| Competition | 2016 Summer Olympics |
| Host city | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil |
| Tournament dates | August 6–21, 2016 |
| Head coach | Mike Krzyzewski |
| Team captain | Carmelo Anthony |
| Games played | 8 |
| Record | 8-0 |
| Final result | Gold medal |
| Gold-medal opponent | Serbia |
| Gold-medal score | USA 96, Serbia 66 |
| Leading scorer | Kevin Durant |
| Leading scorer average | 19.4 PPG |
| Team points | 807 |
| Opponent points | 627 |
| Three-point percentage | 36.9% |
| Field-goal percentage | 47.1% |
The U.S. finished with 807 points in eight Olympic games and conceded 627 points. The team’s shooting percentage from the field was 47.1% while the three-point percentage was 36.9%.
Why Was The 2016 USA Basketball Team So Notable?
The roster was impressive due to its depth.
The USA didn’t use a single goal scorer. Kevin Durant scored the most and Kyrie Irving played ball and provided playmaking. Veteran Carmelo Anthony led the perimeter shooting. Paul George added the second two-way wing. Klay Thompson shot from the outside.
DeMarcus Cousins and DeAndre Jordan were the size and rebounding duo inside. Draymond Green was versatile on the defense and provided a lot of playmaking from the frontcourt.
This resulted in a team that was hard to defend in a conventional manner. This meant opponents had to deal with perimeter shooting and also size close to the basket.
Kevin Durant Led The Way
Kevin Durant was the statistical leader for Team USA in Rio.
He played an average of 19.4 points and 5.0 rebounds per game, and added 3.5 assists. He had a 57.8% field goal percent and 58.1% from three-point range. He scored 155 points in the tournament.
The gold-medal game was particularly important for Durant. He finished with 30 points against Serbia, and assisted the United States in setting up a massive early lead in the game.
He was also a key player on the team that won gold in the Olympics because he was one of just two players who had the same name as the team that won gold in 2012. The other was Carmelo Anthony.
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Carmelo Anthony’s Role
Carmelo Anthony had a lot of Olympic experience coming in to Rio.
He was the captain and the first American men’s basketball player to take home three Olympic gold medals. He scored 12.1 points and dished out 5.3 rebounds per game in the tournament. He also racked up 18 3-pointers.
Anthony wasn’t just a scorer. He brought a veteran presence to the team, as a number of the team members were new to the Olympic level of basketball.
Kyrie Irving And The Backcourt
Kyrie Irving made 4.9 assists and scored 11.4 points on average.
He was also able to create off the dribble, which provided a new offensive avenue for Team USA. He also hit 90.9% on the free throw line and nine 3-pointers for the tournament.
Another key ball handler was Kyle Lowry. He was averaging 3.8 assists per game and was a player assisting with the offense.
Klay Thompson, Jimmy Butler and DeMar DeRozan were also in the backcourt. That left Coach K with a few options on the opponent and circumstance of the game.
2016 USA Basketball Team Olympic Results
Team USA finished their group A campaign with five games. The USA came out of the group stage with all of their victories.
| Stage | Opponent | Result |
| Group stage | China | USA 119-62 |
| Group stage | Venezuela | USA 113-69 |
| Group stage | Australia | USA 98-88 |
| Group stage | Serbia | USA 94-91 |
| Group stage | France | USA 100-97 |
| Quarterfinal | Argentina | USA 105-78 |
| Semifinal | Spain | USA 82-76 |
| Gold-medal game | Serbia | USA 96-66 |
The United States won the preliminary round 5-0. It then went on to defeat Argentina, Spain and Serbia to finish the tournament unbeaten.
The Road To The Gold Medal
Both the scoring power and some of the issues that will be faced by Team USA were on display in the group stage.
The United States won the opening game against China, 119-62. It was therefore a logical step following the 113-69 win over Venezuela.
A series of close encounters took place against Australia, Serbia and France. Australia held the USA at bay before falling 98-88. Serbia lost 94-91. France was then within three points of a 100-97 victory by the Americans.
The close games of the tournament had made the knockout more interesting.
In the quarter-final, the United States beat Argentina 105-78. Spain faced a tougher semifinal but Team USA prevailed 82-76.
That led to another final with Serbia.
The 2016 Olympic Final: USA vs. Serbia
The game for gold medals was played August 21, 2016.
Serbia lost to the United States, 96-66. Their previous group stage clash was more of a one-way affair.
Team USA led 19-15 after the first quarter and jumped to 52-29 at the break. Kevin Durant’s outside shooting and DeMarcus Cousins’ inside play played a big role in the victory.
The win allowed the U.S. to win its third-straight Olympic gold medal in basketball, men’s edition.
Serbia took silver and Spain won the bronze medals in the match.
2016 USA Basketball Team Physical Appearance Table
This was a 12-player roster which resulted in some differing physical profiles. The following table does not include subjective commentaries but just focuses on height and playing position.
| Player | Height | Position |
| Kevin Durant | 6’11” | Forward |
| Carmelo Anthony | 6’8″ | Forward |
| Kyrie Irving | 6’2″ | Guard |
| Klay Thompson | 6’6″ | Guard |
| Paul George | 6’9″ | Forward |
| DeMarcus Cousins | 6’10” | Center |
| DeAndre Jordan | 6’11” | Center |
| Jimmy Butler | 6’7″ | Guard/Forward |
| Kyle Lowry | 6’0″ | Guard |
| Draymond Green | 6’6″ | Forward |
| DeMar DeRozan | 6’7″ | Guard |
| Harrison Barnes | 6’8″ | Forward |
Team USA had a lot of flexibility in terms of positioning with its perimeter players and big forwards.
2016 USA Basketball Team Statistics
The United States averaged 100.9 points per game in eight games with a total of 807 points. Opponents averaged 78.4 points a game (627 total).
| Category | Team USA |
| Games | 8 |
| Record | 8-0 |
| Points | 807 |
| Points per game | 100.9 |
| Opponent points | 627 |
| Opponent PPG | 78.4 |
| Field goals | 278 |
| Field-goal attempts | 590 |
| FG percentage | 47.1% |
| Three-pointers | 83 |
| Three-point attempts | 225 |
| 3P percentage | 36.9% |
| Free throws | 168 |
| Rebounds | 333 |
| Assists | 192 |
| Steals | 70 |
| Blocks | 28 |
The numbers reveal that the 2016 USA basketball team was efficient at shooting and scoring on the court. The team led the team with 192 assists, 70 steals and 28 blocks.
2016 USA Basketball Team Net Worth Overview
The official number for “net worth” of Team USA wasn’t available. Players were independent players with various contracts, endorsement deals and investments.
For comparison, Forbes figured the sum of all 12 members of the 2016 Olympic team’s salaries and endorsements in the prior 12 months was roughly $257 million. Forbes also said that Kevin Durant earned $56.2 million, Carmelo Anthony earned $30.9 million, Kyrie Irving earned $27.6 million and Paul George earned $24.1 million during that period.
The current net-worth estimates should not be interpreted along with the 2016 earnings estimates.
| Player | Financial overview |
| Kevin Durant | Forbes estimated $56.2M in 2016 salary and endorsements; later wealth estimates vary |
| Carmelo Anthony | Forbes estimated $30.9M in 2016 salary and endorsements |
| Kyrie Irving | Forbes estimated $27.6M in 2016 salary and endorsements |
| Paul George | Forbes estimated $24.1M in 2016 salary and endorsements |
| Klay Thompson | Major NBA salary and endorsement income |
| DeMarcus Cousins | NBA salary and endorsement income |
| DeAndre Jordan | NBA salary and endorsement income |
| Jimmy Butler | NBA salary and endorsement income |
| Kyle Lowry | NBA salary and endorsement income |
| Draymond Green | NBA salary and endorsement income |
| DeMar DeRozan | NBA salary and endorsement income |
| Harrison Barnes | NBA salary and endorsement income |
Net worth does not equal career earnings. Also, it can alter due to tax, investment, property, business interests, etc. and other expenses. Therefore, figures from websites that depend on the wealth of celebrities should not be taken as official.
For instance, Forbes today lists Durant’s business investments under the Thirty Five Ventures brand, and separately reports his off-court income for 2026.
What Does “2016 USA Basketball Team” Mean Across Platforms?
The phrase can have slightly varying uses for its searchers. Knowing what the intent is, will help you understand why the keyword is being used in news articles, statistics pages, videos, and social media.
| Platform or search context | Common meaning | Example search |
| Google Search | Full roster, results and background | “2016 USA basketball team roster” |
| Basketball statistics sites | Player and team statistics | “Kevin Durant 2016 Olympic stats” |
| YouTube | Highlights and game footage | “USA vs Serbia 2016 final highlights” |
| Social media | Memories, photos and player discussions | “2016 Team USA basketball” |
| Wikipedia-style pages | Roster and tournament history | “2016 United States Olympic basketball team” |
| Sports news | Tournament stories and player performances | “USA wins Olympic basketball gold 2016” |
| Fan searches | Players, jerseys and memorable games | “2016 USA basketball players” |
This explains why the keyword can have informational, statistical and historical search intent at the same time.
Why People Still Search For The 2016 Team
The 2016 team continues to have plenty of names that have been looked upon, as a number of them became big names in NBA history.
The team featured stars such as Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, Carmelo Anthony, Klay Thompson, Paul George, Draymond Green, Jimmy Butler and more.
There’s also a nice piece of history in the 2016 roster and subsequent NBA career. Some of these players went on to win championships, sign big contracts or become long-term leaders of the franchise.
The team is also sandwiched in between two great eras of American Olympic basketball. The 2008, 2012 and 2016 teams all won gold. The win capped a gold medal sweep for the United States in men’s basketball, which it had enjoyed at the Olympics since 1996.
How Good Was The 2016 USA Basketball Team?
The best way to judge the 2016 team is to see what it has achieved so far.
It posted an average of 100.9 points a game and ended 8-0, winning the gold. It also defeated Serbia twice in the tournament, including its gold medal win in the match of 96-66.
The group wasn’t invincible on a game-by-game basis, however. It was a close call in the preliminary round in Australia, Serbia and France.
The 2016 tournament will be interesting due to that combination. Team USA swept up a few teams, but was also competitive before the knockouts.
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Final Thoughts
The 2016 USA basketball team was designed with the NBA scoring style and size/versatility in mind. Kevin Durant and Carmelo Anthony had the team’s statistics and Kyrie Irving had some Olympic experience and controlled the backcourt. The addition of a variety of players like Klay Thompson, Paul George, DeMarcus Cousins and DeAndre Jordan expanded the range of possibilities throughout the floor.
The results were conclusive. Team USA went undefeated in Rio, with the team scoring 807 points and taking home the Olympic gold medal. It faced Serbia in its final test and the USA beat it 96-66.
The list is still of value a decade later to this day as a glimpse into one of the most significant eras in the NBA and overseas basketball. It saw the coming together of long-time Olympic veterans and a clutch of stars that would go on to influence the NBA for years to come.
FAQs:
Who was on the 2016 USA basketball team?
The roster included Kevin Durant, Carmelo Anthony, Kyrie Irving, Klay Thompson, Paul George, DeMarcus Cousins, DeAndre Jordan, Jimmy Butler, Kyle Lowry, Draymond Green, DeMar DeRozan and Harrison Barnes.
Who was the best scorer on the 2016 USA basketball team?
Kevin Durant led Team USA with 19.4 points per game. He scored 155 points across eight Olympic games.
Did the 2016 USA basketball team win gold?
Yes. The United States went 8-0 and defeated Serbia 96-66 in the gold-medal game.
Who coached Team USA in 2016?
Mike Krzyzewski coached the United States men’s basketball team at the Rio Olympics.
Who was the captain of the 2016 USA basketball team?
Carmelo Anthony was the team captain. He also became the first American men’s basketball player to win three Olympic gold medals.
How many games did Team USA play in Rio 2016?
The United States played eight games. It won all five group-stage games and then won three knockout games.
