Top 10 Moments of the Redeem Team

MIES (Switzerland) - USA Basketball has the gold medal standard. When its teams don't reach the top of the podium, the world stops.

After the USA came up short of glory at the 2002 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Indianapolis, the 2004 Olympics in Athens and the 2006 World Cup in Japan, alarms bells rang like never before because the giant shadow cast across the international hoops landscape by the letters USA was no more.

Then came the Redeem Team.

USA Basketball, led by new national team managing director Jerry Colangelo, set out to reclaim the throne, and did.

With three players that experienced the pain of 2004 - LeBron James, Dywane Wade and Carmelo Anthony - in tow, USA coach Mike Krzyzewski added the ultimate champion to the squad, Kobe Bryant, to go after redemption in Beijing. And they got it!

As Netflix airs the 'The Redeem Team' on Friday night, the world is going to be reminded of how USA Basketball, thanks in large part to the inspirational play and leadership of Kobe, regained its swag.

 
If the Gold Medal Game triumph over Spain, arguably the most competitive and glamorous battle ever waged on the Olympic stage, is what most people remember, there are many other chapters written by the USA on their road to vindication that are going to be revealed in 'The Redeem Team'.

Here is a look back at 10 of the Redeem Team's top moments.

10 - July 22, 2007 - Welcome to the team, Mamba

In what was dubbed the 2007 State Farm USA Basketball Challenge in Las Vegas, Kobe made a big splash in his first game wearing the national team jersey. With 17 players from the USA Basketball Men's Senior National Team split into Blue and White teams, and with a roaring crowd of 15,132, Kobe led the Blue to a come-from-behind 105-104 victory, hitting what proved to be a game-winning mid-range jump shot six seconds from the end.

9 - Aug. 26, 2007 - Kobe ignites the passion

The game that changed everything for USA, that set the tone for a run to 2008 Olympic gold, was against Brazil. It was the last Group B contest at the FIBA AmeriCup. Kobe, whose spectacular offense usually captivated crowds, asked Coach K if he could use his defense to help the team. He asked for permission to guard Leandro Barbosa, who went into the game as the tournament's leading scorer. Kobe held Barbosa to four points, dived on the floor for loose balls and lit a fire under the USA that still burns today.

8 - Sept. 2, 2007 - Blowing out Argentina in Vegas

Having had its Olympic title defense ended in an 89-81 Semi-Final defeat to Argentina in 2004, the USA hit back in a 118-81 beat down of the South American giants in the 2007 FIBA AmeriCup Final. The USA had been mocked for their lack of perimeter firepower in Athens, yet in this game, the Americans knocked down an eye-popping 20 of 41 from deep, including an eight of 11 showing from James. 

7 - Aug. 1, 2008 - USA's loud message in exhibition win over Lithuania

The warning signs of a difficult Olympic campaign had been there for the USA before the 2004 Games because in a warmup, Italy had throttled them 95-78 in Cologne, Germany. Once in Athens, Sarunas Jasikevicius tore the Americans to shreds in a 94-90 win, making seven shots from the arc and scoring 28 points. The USA wanted a tone-setting victory before the Beijing Games against Lithuania in Macao just nine days before the start of the Summer Games and claimed it. Kobe held Jasikevicius to two-of-eight shooting from the floor, and Wade poured in 19 points in an emphatic 120-84 USA victory.

6 - Aug. 8, 2008 - Styling at the Bird's Nest

Ask any Olympian about the event that gives the biggest charge at the Summer Games and the answer is almost always taking part in the Opening Ceremony. USA players wanted to look the part of the best team in the world and they did, all decked out in Ralph Lauren blazers and trousers, and jaunty newsboy caps.

5 - Aug. 10, 2008 - Hit the ground running

The Americans, beaten three times at the previous Summer Games in Greece, were the main event on opening night against hosts China and everyone wanted to see it - including United States President George W. Bush and former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger. China, led by Yao Ming, trailed by 12 at half-time but James and Wade combined for 37 points to propel the Americans to a 101-70 triumph.

4 - Aug. 14, 2008 - USA's Herculean effort against Greeks

A 101-95 USA defeat to Greece in the Semi-Finals of the 2006 FIBA Basketball World Cup had sent shockwaves through international hoops.  There was no repeat two years later, however. Instead, the USA took a big step towards redemption by opening up a 51-32 half-time lead before cruising to a 92-69 victory. Wade had six steals to go with his 17 points while James scored 13 points and had six rebounds, six assists and three swats.

3 - Aug. 22, 2008 - Revenge in the Semi-Final

USA, with their Olympic Semi-Final defeat to Argentina four years earlier still weighing heavily on them, wanted no repeat of that misery. The Americans took no prisoners with a blistering opening 10 minutes to take a 30-11 lead and rolled to a 101-81 triumph.

2 - Aug. 24, 2008 - Kobe's 4-point play

The exclamation mark on a brilliant run to gold! Spain, a team the Americans had steamrolled eight days before in the Preliminary Round, 119-82, showed up for the Gold Medal Game breathing fire and especially Rudy Fernandez, who erupted for 22 points and famously dunked on Dwight Howard. With the game hanging in the balance, Kobe came to the rescue. With 3:10 remaining and the USA up 104-99, Kobe was fouled by Fernandez while making a three-pointer and sank the free-throw for a four-point play. The Americans won, 118-107.

1 - Aug. 24, 2008 - Mission Accomplished

Nothing compares to the exhilaration of capturing an Olympic gold medal. That was plain to see for USA as it achieved redemption in the Wukesong Arena. In his first Olympics, Kobe was a gold medalist while LeBron, D Wade and Carmelo relegated the disappointments they had endured in 2004 and 2006 to the past.

FIBA