Gold medalist Kidd in select company

The following was released today by the NBA office:

The U.S. Olympic Men’s Basketball Team defeated Spain in Sunday’s gold medal game in Beijing, bringing the total to 24 current or former NBA players who earned medals at the 2008 Olympic Games. Argentina defeated Lithuania for the bronze medal.

The NBA was well represented on the rosters for the men’s basketball competition at the 2008 Olympic Games. A total of 42 current and former NBA players were on the 12 Olympic rosters, the highest number since NBA players began participating in the Olympics in 1992. Ten Olympic teams had at least one current or former player on their roster.

The United States, dating back to the 1936 Olympic Games, has captured 13 of the 16 Olympic gold medals which it competed for. With the victory, Jason Kidd extended his international record to 56-0 in Olympics, Olympic qualifying and exhibition games. Kidd joins a distinguished list of NBA players, including Charles Barkley, Patrick Ewing, Michael Jordan and David Robinson, among others, that have won multiple Olympic gold medals.

First-time Olympians and gold-medalists for the United States include Carmelo Anthony (Denver Nuggets), Chris Bosh (Toronto Raptors), Carlos Boozer (Utah Jazz), Kobe Bryant (L.A. Lakers), Dwight Howard (Orlando Magic), LeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers), Chris Paul (New Orleans Hornets), Tayshaun Prince (Detroit Pistons), Michael Redd (Milwaukee Bucks), Dwyane Wade (Miami Heat) and Deron Williams (Utah Jazz).

The silver medal-winning Spanish Olympic Team featured seven current or former NBA players, led by Pau Gasol (L.A. Lakers), Jose-Manuel Calderon (Toronto Raptors), Rudy Fernandez (Portland Trail Blazers), Jorge Garbajosa (Toronto Raptors, 2007-08), Marc Gasol (Memphis Grizzlies), Raul Lopez (Utah Jazz, 2002-05) and Juan Carlos Navarro (Memphis Grizzlies, 2007-08)

Argentina received the Bronze and was led by Manu Ginobili (San Antonio Spurs), Carlos Delfino (Toronto Raptors, 2007-08, Detroit Pistons 2004-07), Andres Nocioni (Chicago Bulls), Fabricio Oberto (San Antonio Spurs), and Luis Scola (Houston Rockets).