Chronicles of the Hardwood
An academic examination of the basketball competitions at the 1984 Los Angeles Summer Olympic Games.
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Tournament Overview
Venue and Dates
The eleventh Olympic basketball tournament convened at The Forum in Inglewood, California, USA. The competitions spanned from July 29 to August 10, 1984, marking basketball's continued presence as a medal sport in the Summer Olympics.
Global Context and Boycott Impact
The 1984 Los Angeles Games were significantly affected by the Soviet-led boycott. Consequently, the Soviet Union and Hungary, both qualified for the men's tournament, withdrew. West Germany replaced the Soviet Union. Similarly, for the women's tournament, the Soviet Union's absence saw Australia and South Korea advance.
Dominance and Milestones
The host nation, the United States, achieved a notable feat by securing the gold medal in both the men's and women's tournaments. The women's victory was particularly significant, representing their inaugural Olympic gold medal in basketball.
Medal Summary
Men's Tournament
The United States men's national basketball team secured the gold medal, defeating Spain in the final. Yugoslavia earned the bronze medal.
Women's Tournament
The United States women's national basketball team claimed their first Olympic gold medal, triumphing over South Korea. China secured the bronze medal.
Qualification Pathways
Men's Qualification
Qualification was determined through various FIBA-sanctioned tournaments and automatic berths:
Women's Qualification
The women's tournament featured six teams, with qualification based on host status, prior championship performance, and a dedicated qualifying tournament:
Tournament Format
Men's Format
The men's tournament commenced with two preliminary groups of six teams each. The top four teams from each group advanced to a single-elimination knockout stage, comprising quarterfinals, semifinals, and medal matches. Teams finishing fifth and sixth competed in classification rounds for 9th-12th places.
Women's Format
The women's competition featured a single round-robin group consisting of all six participating teams. The top two teams contested the gold medal final, while the third and fourth-place teams played for the bronze medal. The remaining teams were ranked based on their group stage performance.
Men's Tournament Details
Preliminary Group Standings
The group stage determined advancement to the knockout phase. Notable performances included undefeated runs by Yugoslavia (Group A) and the United States (Group B).
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | |
5 | 5 | 0 | 457 | 366 | +91 | 10 | Quarterfinals |
| 2 | |
5 | 4 | 1 | 437 | 363 | +74 | 9 | |
| 3 | |
5 | 3 | 2 | 383 | 403 | โ20 | 8 | |
| 4 | |
5 | 2 | 3 | 384 | 376 | +8 | 7 | |
| 5 | |
5 | 1 | 4 | 401 | 423 | โ22 | 6 | 9thโ12th classification |
| 6 | |
5 | 0 | 5 | 349 | 480 | โ131 | 5 |
Source: FIBA archive
Knockout Stage
The knockout phase saw intense competition, culminating in the final between the United States and Spain. The semifinals featured Yugoslavia vs. Spain and USA vs. Canada.
Women's Tournament Details
Round-Robin Results
The women's tournament utilized a round-robin format, determining the medalists based on final standings. The United States and South Korea advanced to the final, while China and Australia competed for bronze.
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Academic Disclaimer
Important Notice
This document has been generated by an AI system for educational and informational purposes, drawing exclusively from the provided source material regarding the 1984 Summer Olympics basketball tournament. While efforts have been made to ensure accuracy based on the source, users are advised that this content is a secondary representation and may not encompass all nuances or context present in the original data.
This is not official Olympic documentation or sports commentary. The information presented is intended for academic study and should not be considered a substitute for official records or professional analysis. Always consult primary sources for definitive information.
The creators of this page are not liable for any inaccuracies, omissions, or actions taken based on the information provided herein.