2007 FIBA Americas Championship

The 2007 FIBA Americas Championship was the thirteenth edition of the premier international basketball competition for senior men's national teams from the Americas, held from August 22 to September 2, 2007, at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States.^[1][2] The tournament also doubled as the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, with the top two finishing teams securing qualification.^[3] Ten teams competed in the event, divided into two preliminary round groups of five: Group A (Argentina, Mexico, Panama, Puerto Rico, Uruguay) and Group B (Brazil, Canada, United States, U.S. Virgin Islands, Venezuela).^[4] The format featured a round-robin group stage followed by quarterfinals, semifinals, and medal games, with the United States posting a perfect 10-0 record and capturing the gold medal by defeating Argentina 118–81 in the final.^[5][2] Puerto Rico claimed the bronze medal with a 111–107 victory over Brazil, while Argentina's silver medal finish alongside the U.S. ensured both nations' Olympic berths.^[5] The U.S. team, coached by Mike Krzyzewski and featuring NBA stars such as Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, and Dwight Howard, dominated the competition, outscoring opponents by an average of 40 points per game under the newly revamped USA Basketball select team program initiated after the national team's disappointing third-place finish at the 2006 FIBA World Championship.^[6][7][2] This victory marked the United States' fourth FIBA Americas Championship title and highlighted their resurgence in international basketball ahead of the Olympics.^[3]

Background

Host selection

The bidding process for hosting the 2007 FIBA Americas Championship involved evaluations by FIBA Americas of proposals from multiple national federations. On May 16, 2006, FIBA Americas awarded the hosting rights to Venezuela, selecting it over competing bids from Chile and Argentina, which had been named as the finalists.^[8][9] Venezuela's federation, however, failed to meet the financial obligations required to secure the event, including a $1.5 million hosting fee that was due by August 31, 2006. Although a payment was eventually made, it arrived after the deadline, leading FIBA Americas' executive committee to initially reject the bid and grant Venezuela additional time to comply with the requirements.^[10][11] Following Venezuela's inability to fulfill the conditions, FIBA Americas reassigned the hosting duties after further evaluation of alternative proposals. On October 29, 2006, FIBA Americas announced that USA Basketball's bid to host the tournament in Las Vegas, Nevada, had been accepted.^[12][1]

Qualification process

The 2007 FIBA Americas Championship featured 10 teams, with qualification determined through automatic berths and regional tournaments organized by FIBA Americas in 2006. The United States secured automatic qualification as the host nation after Venezuela, the original host, relinquished its rights due to failure to meet a $1.5 million payment deadline by August 31, 2006.^[13] Canada also earned an automatic spot as the second North American representative.^[14] The remaining eight teams qualified via two zonal tournaments: the South American Championship and the Centrobasket Championship, each allocating four slots to the top finishers. In the South American Championship, held in Caracas, Venezuela, from July 12 to 16, 2006, six nations competed, and the top four advanced—Brazil (champion, defeating Uruguay 92–61 in the final), Argentina, Uruguay, and Venezuela (which reached the semifinals).^[15][16][14] The Centrobasket Championship, hosted by Panama in Panama City from July 4 to 8, 2006, involved eight teams from Central America and the Caribbean, with the top four qualifying—Panama (champion, beating the U.S. Virgin Islands 73-59 in the final), Puerto Rico, Mexico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.^[17][18][14]

Tournament details

Dates and venue

The 2007 FIBA Americas Championship took place from August 22 to September 2, 2007, spanning 12 days of competition.^[1][12] All 40 games of the tournament were hosted exclusively at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States, serving as the sole venue for the event.^[12] The Thomas & Mack Center, a multipurpose arena on the University of Nevada, Las Vegas campus, has a basketball capacity of 18,500 spectators and provided a centralized facility for the international competition, facilitating efficient scheduling and operations.^[19] Originally awarded to Venezuela, the hosting rights were reallocated to the United States after Venezuela failed to meet the required financial commitments by the deadline.^[9]

Participating teams

The 2007 FIBA Americas Championship featured ten national teams representing various regions across the Americas: Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, Panama, Puerto Rico, the United States, Uruguay, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Venezuela. These teams earned their spots either as direct qualifiers based on prior FIBA rankings and performances or through regional pre-qualifying tournaments held in 2006 and early 2007.^[12] The participants were divided into two preliminary round groups of five teams each to determine advancement to the knockout stages. Group A included Argentina, Mexico, Panama, Puerto Rico, and Uruguay, while Group B consisted of Brazil, Canada, the United States, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Venezuela.^[20]

• Argentina: As runners-up in both the 2003 and 2005 FIBA Americas Championships, Argentina arrived as a medal contender with a battle-tested roster anchored by NBA forward Luis Scola, the tournament MVP,^[21] and experienced players like Carlos Delfino, building on their silver medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics.^[22][23] The team, direct qualifiers, were expected to challenge for the top spot in Group A and secure Olympic qualification.^[12]
• Brazil: The defending champions from the 2005 FIBA Americas Championship, where they defeated Argentina in the final, Brazil entered with strong expectations led by NBA talents like Leandrinho Barbosa and Anderson Varejão.^[23] As direct qualifiers, their physical style and depth positioned them as favorites to advance from Group B.^[12]
• Canada: Qualified directly and brought a skilled, perimeter-oriented game to Group B, though recent inconsistencies tempered expectations for a deep run. The team featured NBA players such as Jamaal Magloire.^[12]
• Mexico: Having qualified through the 2006 Centrobasket tournament, Mexico relied on a mix of domestic talent and hustle defense in Group A, marking their return to the main event after a modest showing in prior editions.^[12]
• Panama: Panama earned their berth via the 2006 Central American and Caribbean Championships, entering Group A as underdogs with an emphasis on team speed and local heroes, though lacking the star power of continental powers.^[12]
• Puerto Rico: Direct qualifiers with a proud history, including hosting the 2003 tournament, Puerto Rico brought passionate play and veterans like Carlos Arroyo to Group A, aiming to leverage home-region support despite recent uneven results.^[22][12]
• United States: Hosting the event, the United States fielded a star-studded roster with NBA All-Stars including Kobe Bryant in his international debut, LeBron James, and Dwyane Wade, seeking redemption after the 2004 Olympic bronze and positioned as overwhelming favorites in Group B.^[2][12]
• Uruguay: Qualifying through the South American Championship for Men 2006, Uruguay entered Group A with a resilient squad focused on fundamentals, representing a traditional but underdog presence in the competition.^[12]
• U.S. Virgin Islands: The U.S. Virgin Islands secured qualification via the 2006 Centrobasket, bringing an energetic, fast-paced style to Group B as relative newcomers with limited high-level experience.^[12]
• Venezuela: Having advanced through pre-qualifying events, Venezuela added athleticism and emerging talent to Group B, viewed as a potential spoiler despite not being among the traditional elite.^[12]

Pre-tournament buzz centered on the USA-Argentina rivalry, with both seen as locks for Olympic berths, while Brazil aimed to defend their title amid a competitive field seeking the remaining qualification spots.^[24]

Format

Preliminary round structure

The 2007 FIBA Americas Championship featured a preliminary round divided into two groups of five teams each, designated as Group A and Group B, comprising a total of 10 participating nations from the Americas.^[4] The teams were allocated to groups based on a draw conducted prior to the tournament, with Group A consisting of Argentina, Mexico, Panama, Puerto Rico, and Uruguay, while Group B included Brazil, Canada, the United States, Venezuela, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.^[4] Within each group, the preliminary round followed a round-robin format, where every team competed against the other four teams in its group once, resulting in four games per team and a total of 10 games per group.^[4] These matches were scheduled over five days from August 22 to 26, 2007, with each team receiving one day off to allow for recovery.^[12] Standings in each group were determined by win-loss records, with tie-breaking criteria applied if necessary to resolve equalities based on head-to-head results, point difference, and points scored.^[4] The top four teams from each group advanced to the second round, totaling eight teams, while the fifth-placed team in each group was eliminated from contention.^[4] This structure ensured a balanced progression, with the preliminary round serving to identify the strongest performers for the subsequent phase.^[25] Group seeding was used to schedule the order of matchups in the second round, with a crossover system pairing higher seeds against lower seeds from the opposing group initially, though all inter-group games were played in a round-robin format.^[4]

Knockout stage

Following the preliminary round, the top four teams from each group advanced to the second round, where they formed a single group of eight. Results from intra-group preliminary round games carried over to the standings. Each advancing team played four additional round-robin games against the top four teams from the other group over four days from August 27 to 30, 2007.^[12][5] Standings in the second round were based on the results of all eight games played by each team (four preliminary and four second round), used to seed the semifinals. The top four teams after the second round advanced to the semifinals, while positions 5–8 for the bottom four were determined by their overall records.^[12] In the semifinals held on September 1, 2007, the first-placed team faced the fourth-placed team, while the second-placed team faced the third-placed team.^[12] The winners advanced directly to the final to contest the championship on September 2, 2007, whereas the losers played in the third place game to determine the bronze medal.^[12] This single-elimination format for the medal rounds provided a straightforward path to gold without repechage, emphasizing performance in the preceding rounds for seeding. The top two finishers qualified directly for the 2008 Summer Olympics, while the third- through fifth-place teams advanced to the 2008 FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament.^[2]

Tie-breaking criteria

In the 2007 FIBA Americas Championship, ties in the group standings were resolved using a series of criteria based on FIBA's standard procedures for preliminary rounds, applied to determine advancement to the knockout stage.^[26] The primary tie-breaker was the head-to-head result between the tied teams; for multiple teams, this involved establishing a sub-group ranking from their mutual games.^[27] If the head-to-head results did not fully resolve the tie, the secondary criterion was the point difference (points scored minus points conceded) across all group games played by the tied teams.^[27] As a tertiary measure, the point difference specifically from the head-to-head game(s) among the tied teams was considered when necessary.^[27] Further tie-breakers included the total points scored by each team in their group games, followed by the total points scored across all tournament games if the tie persisted.^[27] These rules, adapted from general FIBA guidelines for the event, ensured fair resolution without requiring additional play; for instance, in a two-team tie, the head-to-head winner advanced directly, while multi-team ties prioritized internal sub-group performance before broadening to overall metrics.^[26]

Teams and rosters

National team overviews

The United States entered the 2007 FIBA Americas Championship as part of a revamped national team program initiated by managing director Jerry Colangelo following disappointing results at the 2004 Athens Olympics and 2006 FIBA World Championship.^[2] Head coach Mike Krzyzewski, appointed in 2005 to lead the senior men's program through 2008, emphasized team cohesion, defensive intensity, and unselfish play during pre-tournament preparations.^[28] The selection process bypassed traditional tryouts, directly assembling a roster of elite NBA players including Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, and Carmelo Anthony as the foundation for the "Redeem Team" initiative aimed at restoring U.S. dominance.^[29] Preparations included a training camp in Las Vegas with intra-squad scrimmages, such as the State Farm USA Basketball Challenge White vs. Blue game, to build chemistry ahead of the tournament hosted in the same city.^[30] Argentina, the defending champions from 2005, relied on head coach Sergio Hernández to maintain their core group of experienced players while integrating younger talent through a structured selection process.^[31] Hernández, who had guided the team to Olympic bronze in 2004, focused preparations on refining their balanced offense and tenacious defense during camps in Buenos Aires and exhibitions against international opponents, including a matchup against the world champion Spain to test readiness.^[32] No major roster changes occurred, though Hernández adjusted the preliminary list to ensure depth in forward positions, prioritizing players familiar with his system of high-tempo play and ball movement. Brazil's preparations centered on leveraging the scoring prowess of NBA guard Leandro Barbosa under head coach Lula Ferreira, who aimed to qualify for the Olympics by emphasizing fast breaks and perimeter shooting.^[33] Ferreira selected a blend of NBA and domestic talent during trials in São Paulo, with pre-tournament exhibitions against South American rivals to simulate tournament pressure; Barbosa's role as the primary offensive threat was solidified early, with the team conducting specialized drills to maximize his quickness in transition.^[34] Puerto Rico, seeking to rebound from inconsistent recent performances, appointed Manolo Cintrón as head coach just before the event, replacing Julio Toro to inject fresh tactical approaches focused on aggressive defense and inside scoring.^[35] Preparations involved a series of exhibitions against Brazil, Canada, and Argentina in San Juan, providing valuable experience despite losses, with Cintrón using the games to finalize selections and address conditioning for the physical style of Americas play. Canada's head coach Leo Rautins, in his third year leading the senior men, prioritized player development through regional qualifiers and a training camp in Toronto, selecting a roster heavy on Canadian-born NBA prospects to build long-term competitiveness.^[36] The strategy emphasized perimeter defense and rebounding, with exhibitions against European clubs to prepare for stronger opponents. Venezuela, under head coach Néstor Salazar, who was later named the nation's Coach of the Year for his efforts, conducted overseas tours including games against New Zealand, China, and Spain to acclimate the team to varied styles.^[37] Salazar's selection process focused on versatile big men, with no significant injuries disrupting the camp in Caracas. Mexico hired American coach Nolan Richardson to instill a pressing, full-court strategy, with preparations including domestic friendlies and awaiting clearance for key center Lorenzo de la Mata amid minor roster adjustments for availability.^[38][39] Panama, led by head coach Vicente Duncan, built their squad around athletic forwards during a brief preparation phase in Panama City, emphasizing speed and transition play in limited exhibitions against regional teams.^[40] Uruguay's head coach Alberto Espasandín selected a veteran-heavy group through national trials, focusing on disciplined half-court execution during camps in Montevideo with scrimmages to sharpen team defense.^[40] The U.S. Virgin Islands, coached by Tevester Anderson, prepared for the tournament with a two-week training camp emphasizing fast tempo play and participation in the Southern Roundball Classic exhibition to build team unity and experience against competitive opposition.^[41][42]

Squad compositions

The 2007 FIBA Americas Championship featured 10 teams, each with a 12-player roster selected in accordance with FIBA regulations, which required players to hold citizenship or meet international eligibility criteria for their national team. Rosters included a mix of professional players from domestic leagues, European clubs, and the NBA, with no reported last-minute changes affecting the final lineups beyond pre-tournament announcements. Head coaches and assistants were appointed by national federations, focusing on experienced leaders to guide the squads through the Olympic qualifying tournament. Notable inclusions included Kobe Bryant for the United States, marking his first appearance with the senior national team after previous FIBA commitments from other stars. Argentina
Head coach: Sergio Hernández. Assistants: Not specified in available records. The roster emphasized NBA and European experience, with Scola and Delfino as key NBA talents eligible via Argentine citizenship.^[43][44] Brazil
Head coach: Lula Ferreira. Assistants: Not specified in available records. The team blended NBA players like Barbosa and Nenê with domestic stars, all eligible through Brazilian nationality.^[45] Canada
Head coach: Leo Rautins. Assistants: Not specified in available records. Canada's roster featured NBA center Dalembert and European pros, with eligibility confirmed via Canadian citizenship or descent.^[36] Mexico
Head coach: Nolan Richardson. Assistants: Not specified in available records. The squad relied on local league players and naturalized athletes, all meeting FIBA eligibility for Mexico.^[39] Panama
Head coach: Vicente Duncan. Assistants: Not specified in available records. Panama's roster consisted primarily of domestic and regional league players, eligible through Panamanian citizenship. Puerto Rico
Head coach: Manolo Cintrón. Assistants: Not specified in available records. The team included NBA guard Arroyo and other pros, all eligible as Puerto Rican nationals. United States
Head coach: Mike Krzyzewski. Assistants: Jim Boeheim, Nate McMillan, Doc Rivers. All players were active NBA professionals, eligible via U.S. citizenship, with Bryant's inclusion notable as his senior national team debut.^[6][2][46] Uruguay
Head coach: Alberto Espasandín. Assistants: Not specified in available records. Uruguay's lineup featured European-based players like Batista, eligible through Uruguayan nationality. U.S. Virgin Islands
Head coach: Tevester Anderson. Assistants: Not specified in available records. The roster was composed of local and regional talents, all holding U.S. Virgin Islands citizenship for eligibility. Venezuela
Head coach: Néstor Salazar. Assistants: Not specified in available records. Venezuela included naturalized players alongside locals, with eligibility verified under FIBA rules for citizenship and residency.

Competition

Group A

Group A consisted of Argentina, Mexico, Panama, Puerto Rico, and Uruguay, competing in a round-robin preliminary round at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.^[4] The group featured strong South American contenders like Argentina and Uruguay, alongside Caribbean and Central American teams seeking upsets in the race for advancement to the second round. Matches unfolded from August 22 to 27, 2007, with Argentina dominating throughout to secure an undefeated record, while Uruguay clinched second place through gritty victories in close contests.^[47] The opening games on August 22 saw Uruguay edge Panama 88–84 in a tight battle, highlighted by strong defensive play from both sides.^[48] In the other matchup, Mexico pulled away late to defeat Puerto Rico 100–89, led by efficient shooting from Adrian Mariscal. On August 23, Argentina asserted its superiority with a 90–69 rout of Uruguay, showcasing balanced scoring from Luis Scola and Manu Ginóbili.^[48] August 24 featured Puerto Rico's blowout 108–67 win over Panama, where the Puerto Ricans capitalized on turnovers for an easy victory, and Mexico fell to Panama 95–90 in a low-scoring affair decided by Panama's late surge.^[47][49] Argentina continued its form on the same day, beating Puerto Rico 87–75 in a matchup billed as a potential highlight due to regional rivalries.^[50] Action intensified on August 25 with Uruguay's narrow 82–79 triumph over Puerto Rico, a dramatic finish where Esteban Batista's rebounding proved crucial.^[47] Argentina extended its streak to three wins the next day, overpowering Mexico 104–83 behind Carlos Delfino's double-double.^[47] The preliminary round concluded on August 27, as Uruguay defeated Mexico 91–82, fueled by Nicolás Mazzarino's 8-of-13 three-point shooting for a game-high performance.^[51] In the day's other contest, Argentina outlasted Panama 109–92 in overtime, with the game tied at regulation's end after Panama mounted a comeback.^[52] Argentina and Uruguay advanced to the second round as the top two finishers, with Puerto Rico and Mexico qualifying as third and fourth based on point differential tiebreakers among the 1–3 teams.^[47] Key moments included Panama's resilience in forcing overtime against Argentina, nearly stealing a win from the group leaders, and Uruguay's back-to-back close victories over Puerto Rico and Mexico, which solidified their progression despite an early loss.^[52][51]

Group B

Group B featured five teams: the United States, Brazil, Canada, Venezuela, and the United States Virgin Islands. The preliminary round matches for this group took place from August 22 to 26, 2007, at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, as part of the tournament's round-robin format where each team played the other four.^[53] The group stage began on August 22 with Brazil defeating Canada 75–67, led by Leandro Barbosa's 30 points, while the United States overwhelmed Venezuela 112–69, with Carmelo Anthony scoring 17 points.^[54][55] On August 23, Canada defeated Venezuela 80–73, powered by strong play from Samuel Dalembert, and the United States continued their dominance by routing the United States Virgin Islands 123–59.^[56][57] The following day, August 24, saw Brazil extend their lead with a 101–75 victory over Venezuela, highlighted by Marcelinho Machado's 20 points, and Canada securing a win against the United States Virgin Islands 93–83, powered by Samuel Dalembert's 15 points and eight rebounds.^[58][59] On August 25, the United States defeated Canada 113–63 in a lopsided affair, with Dwight Howard contributing 14 points and 10 rebounds.^[60] The final day of group play on August 26 featured Brazil edging the United States Virgin Islands 93–89, Venezuela beating the United States Virgin Islands 100–90 to claim their lone victory, and the United States concluding undefeated with a 113–76 win over Brazil, where Kobe Bryant scored 20 points.^[61][62][63] The standings were determined by number of wins, with tie-breakers used as needed.^[64] The United States showcased overwhelming talent and depth, outscoring opponents by an average of 48.5 points per game, setting a dominant tone for the tournament. Brazil demonstrated competitive balance with key wins over regional rivals, while Canada and Venezuela battled closely, with Canada advancing as third on point differential. The top four teams from Group B advanced to the second round.^[2]

Quarterfinals

Following the preliminary round, the top four teams from each group advanced to the second round, forming a single group of eight teams. Results from the preliminary round games within each original group were carried over, and each team played four additional games against the top four from the other group, from August 27 to 30, 2007, at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. The top four teams from the second round standings advanced to the semifinals, while the bottom four played classification games for 5th–8th places.^[12][4] The second round began on August 27 with seeded crossover matchups: Canada defeated Uruguay 95–88 in a competitive opener, with center Jesse Young leading the way with a game-high 22 points to secure the victory.^[65] Argentina dominated Venezuela 98–63, pulling away early with a 28–10 first-quarter lead behind strong defense and balanced scoring, including 21 points from Luis Scola.^[69] Puerto Rico upset Brazil 97–75, overcoming a talented Brazilian squad through effective perimeter shooting and rebounding, highlighted by Carlos Arroyo and Ricky Sánchez's contributions in a 22-point fourth-quarter surge.^[67] The United States routed Mexico 127–100, showcasing superior athleticism and depth, with Kobe Bryant scoring 23 points in a decisive performance that highlighted the Americans' 27-point halftime lead.^[68] The second round continued over the next days with additional crossover games, culminating in overall standings that advanced the United States, Argentina, Puerto Rico, and Brazil to the semifinals, while Canada finished fifth.^[5] The initial results on August 27 contributed to the momentum, with the lopsided margins in three of the four games underscoring the depth disparity among the qualifiers.^[4]

Semifinals

The semifinals of the 2007 FIBA Americas Championship were held on September 1, 2007, at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, featuring the top four teams from the second round: the United States, Puerto Rico, Argentina, and Brazil.^[70][71] The winners advanced to the final for the championship, while the losers proceeded to the third-place game. In the first semifinal, the United States defeated Puerto Rico 135–91, showcasing their dominant offensive and defensive prowess throughout the tournament.^[70] The U.S. team, led by Redeem Team stars, jumped to an early 33–27 lead after the first quarter and extended it to 57–42 at halftime, fueled by a 10–3 run sparked by Kobe Bryant's jump shot in the second period.^[70] The third quarter saw the Americans pull away decisively, outscoring Puerto Rico 43–28 to lead 100–70 entering the fourth, where a 21–2 run highlighted their control, including four consecutive three-pointers by Michael Redd.^[70] Carmelo Anthony topped the scoring with 27 points, including 4-of-4 from three-point range in the third quarter, while Puerto Rico's Carlos Arroyo and Larry Ayuso combined for 43 points but could not match the U.S. intensity.^[70] The second semifinal pitted Argentina against Brazil, with Argentina emerging victorious 91–80 in a hard-fought battle that secured their Olympic qualification.^[71] Brazil held a halftime advantage of 43–35, shooting an impressive 60% from the field (18-of-30), but Argentina mounted a stunning comeback in the third quarter, outscoring their rivals 30–13 behind Luis Scola's 10 points in the period.^[71] Scola dominated overall with 27 points on 10-of-14 shooting, while Brazil's Leandro Barbosa and Alex Garcia each scored 16 points but faltered in the second half as Argentina's defense tightened.^[71] This win propelled Argentina, the defending world champions, into the gold medal contest.^[71]

Third place game

The third place game of the 2007 FIBA Americas Championship was contested on September 2, 2007, at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, between Puerto Rico and Brazil, the losers of the semifinals.^[72] Puerto Rico defeated Brazil 111–107 in a high-scoring affair marked by exceptional three-point shooting and a tense finish.^[72] The Puerto Rican guards dominated offensively, with Elias Ayuso erupting for 39 points on 8-of-12 shooting from beyond the arc, while Carlos Arroyo added 30 points and 10 assists to orchestrate the attack.^[72] Puerto Rico connected on 15 of 28 three-pointers overall, building a 22-point lead in the third quarter, though Brazil mounted a furious comeback in the fourth, outscoring their opponents 38–30 and narrowing the margin to just one point late.^[72] For Brazil, hampered by the absence of injured center Nene Hilario, Marcelo Machado led with 21 points and Tiago Splitter contributed 19 points and 13 rebounds, but it was not enough to overcome the deficit.^[72] Luis Reyes notched a double-double with 15 points and 15 rebounds.^[72] The victory earned Puerto Rico the bronze medal and secured their direct qualification to the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, joining gold medalist United States and silver medalist Argentina as the three teams from FIBA Americas to advance automatically.^[73] Brazil, finishing fourth, advanced to the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament for a chance at an Olympic berth.^[73]

Final

The championship game of the 2007 FIBA Americas Championship took place on September 2, 2007, at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, pitting the undefeated United States against Argentina, the winners of the opposite semifinal bracket. The United States secured a decisive 118–81 victory, completing a perfect 10–0 record in the tournament and clinching the title.^[74][75] LeBron James dominated for the United States, scoring a game-high and U.S. tournament-record 31 points on efficient shooting, while Dwight Howard added 20 points, eight rebounds, and four blocked shots to anchor the defense. Carmelo Anthony contributed 16 points and a game-high eight rebounds. For Argentina, Luis Scola led with 23 points, nine rebounds, and three assists, providing the bulk of their scoring despite the lopsided margin. Kobe Bryant, playing a facilitator role, recorded five points and a team-high eight assists in 24 minutes. The Americans shot 58% from the field overall, including 48.8% from three-point range, overwhelming Argentina's defense from the opening quarter, where they led 35–14.^[75][76][77] This triumph marked the United States' fourth FIBA Americas Championship crown, highlighting the success of the newly formed Redeem Team era under coach Mike Krzyzewski and affirming their path to the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The lopsided final underscored the talent disparity, with the U.S. averaging over 40-point margins across their tournament wins.^[3]

Outcomes

Final standings

The 2007 FIBA Americas Championship concluded with the United States claiming the gold medal after a perfect 10-0 run, defeating Argentina 118–81 in the final. Argentina earned silver, while Puerto Rico secured bronze by beating Brazil 111–107 in the third-place game. The tournament featured placement games for positions 5–8 and 9–10, determining the full rankings based on overall win-loss records from the group stage and knockout rounds. Luis Scola of Argentina was named tournament MVP for his leading performance in points and rebounds, helping his team reach the final.^[48][5][47]

Olympic qualification

The 2007 FIBA Americas Championship functioned as the continental Olympic Qualifying Tournament for FIBA Americas, allocating two direct berths to the men's basketball competition at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.^[12] The top two finishers, the United States and Argentina, secured these automatic qualifications based on their tournament performances.^[25] Canada, finishing fifth in the final standings, earned advancement to the 2008 FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament held in Athens, Greece.^[73] In the broader Olympic framework, FIBA Americas receives three total spots for men's basketball, with the continental event determining two and the global qualifying tournament providing the opportunity for a third.^[73]

Awards and statistics

Awards

Luis Scola of Argentina was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the 2007 FIBA Americas Championship for his dominant performance, averaging 19.4 points and 7.4 rebounds per game while leading his team to the final.^[78] The award was presented during the post-final ceremony on September 2, 2007, immediately following the United States' 118-81 victory over Argentina in the championship game, where Scola contributed 23 points.^[76] In addition to the MVP honor, Leandro Barbosa of Brazil was recognized as the tournament's top scorer, averaging 21.8 points per game, though detailed statistical achievements are covered separately.^[47]

Individual statistical leaders

The individual statistical leaders for the 2007 FIBA Americas Championship were calculated based on per-game averages for players who appeared in at least four games, as compiled by tournament records.^[79] These metrics highlight standout performances in scoring, rebounding, playmaking, and defensive contributions across the competition.

Points per game

Leandro Barbosa of Brazil led the tournament in scoring with an average of 21.8 points per game over 10 appearances, edging out Carmelo Anthony of the United States, who averaged 21.2 points in nine games.^[79] Esteban Batista of Uruguay rounded out the top three at 20.8 points per game in eight contests.^[79]

Rebounds per game

Esteban Batista dominated the boards, averaging 12.4 rebounds per game in eight games for Uruguay, well ahead of Angelo Luis Reyes of Puerto Rico at 9.5 rebounds over 10 games.^[79] Samuel Dalembert of Canada followed closely with 9.4 rebounds per game in eight appearances.^[79] Luis Scola of Argentina contributed significantly with 7.7 rebounds per game in nine games, showcasing his all-around impact.^[79]

Assists per game

Pablo Prigioni of Argentina topped the assists category with 5.7 per game across nine games, demonstrating his floor-general role for the runners-up.^[79] Carlos Arroyo of Puerto Rico and Deron Williams of the United States tied for second at 4.6 assists per game, with Arroyo playing all 10 games and Williams also appearing in 10.^[79]

Steals per game

Cuthbert Victor of the U.S. Virgin Islands and Carlos Delfino of Argentina shared the steals lead at 2.0 per game, with Victor qualifying in four games and Delfino in nine.^[79] LeBron James of the United States ranked third with 1.5 steals per game over 10 appearances.^[79]

Blocks per game

Samuel Dalembert of Canada led in blocks with 2.4 per game in eight games, followed by Miguel Marriaga of Venezuela at 2.0 blocks over eight games.^[79] Dwight Howard of the United States placed third with 1.8 blocks per game in 10 appearances.^[79] FIBA's Performance Index Rating (PIR), a comprehensive efficiency metric accounting for points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks, and other factors minus turnovers and fouls, saw LeBron James of the United States leading among tracked players with 23.8 PIR per game in 10 games, though full tournament-wide rankings were not comprehensively archived.^[80]

Team and game highs

The 2007 FIBA Americas Championship featured several notable team performances, with the United States setting multiple benchmarks in scoring and margin of victory. The U.S. team recorded the tournament's highest single-game point total with 135 points in a semifinal win over Puerto Rico (135-91).^[48] They also achieved the largest victory margin of 64 points in a preliminary round rout of the U.S. Virgin Islands (123-59).^[25] Overall, the U.S. averaged 116.7 points per game across their undefeated 10-0 run, establishing a high mark for offensive output.^[2] Individual game highs highlighted the tournament's star power, particularly from U.S. and international players. LeBron James set the single-game scoring record with 31 points on 11-of-15 field goals, including 8-of-11 from three-point range, in the gold medal final against Argentina (118-81).^[81] Leandro Barbosa followed closely with 30 points to lead Brazil over Canada (75-67) in the preliminary round.^[82] On the boards, Uruguay's Esteban Batista grabbed a game-high 20 rebounds alongside 21 points in a preliminary round victory over Mexico (91-82).^[47] In playmaking, Puerto Rico's Carlos Arroyo dished out 10 assists in the third-place game against Brazil (111-107).^[72] Defensive standouts included Dwight Howard's four blocks in the final, contributing to the U.S. team's tournament-leading rebounding average of 42.3 per game.^[2] These performances underscored the event's competitive balance, with the U.S. dominating offensively while international teams like Brazil and Uruguay excelled in individual efforts.