The United States will try again this summer for a medal in men's basketball. In 2000 the competition was just as heated as Allan Houston of the United States goes for two under the basket while Darius Songaila of Lithuania tries to defend. (Daryl Stone, USA TODAY)
No. 3. Men's basketball
The Dream Team was of another age and another generation. Now most of the top American stars stay home to get married, raise babies, heal bodies, face felonies, avoid terrorists, play golf. And any number of teams -- Lithuania, Serbia and Montenegro, Argentina -- have no fear of the USA.
Tim Duncan and Allen Iverson are still going, and Larry Brown is a coach who doesn't lose much. But if the Americans are to avenge the humiliation of the sixth-place finish in the world championships and avoid their first Olympic loss since the NBA began sending players, the new wave will have to produce. The stage is open for LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony and Emeka Okafor.
