Inspired by their country's humiliation at the 2002 FIBA Worlds, a number of NBA superstars like Allen Iverson, Tim Duncan and LeBron James elected to play in the Athens Games. But a shocking loss to Puerto Rico in the opener cast serious doubts on their gold medal hopes. The U.S. team followed up close wins over Greece and Australia with a second loss against Lithuania. The Americans still managed to qualify for the medal round (barely), but a semifinal loss to Argentina sealed their doom.
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