In 2004, Carmelo Anthony joined LeBron James and Dwyane Wade as part of a group that seemed destined for gold once again in the Olympics. Hard to image a squad featuring these three stars would fail but that’s exactly what happened.
Since 1992, the men’s basketball team has dominated on the world scene, forming Dream Teams to dismantle the international competition every four years. The 2004 group was formed at the last minute and as a result, fell to a bronze medal finish in a disheartening trip to Athens. The lackluster performance sparked an effort from Jerry Colangelo to reestablish Team USA success and start a process focused on commitment.