Founded in the United States in 1891, basketball didn't get its international roots until 1932, when the International Basketball Federation was formed.
Shortly after, the federation gained recognition from the International Olympic Committee and the sport made its Olympic debut in the 1936 Games in Berlin. Since that time, the U.S. has dominated the sport, winning 11 of 14 gold medals.
In 1992, the U.S. captivated the world when it introduced its "Dream Team," consisting of NBA stars who easily swept through the competition to the gold.
The U.S. women have also dominated Olympic competition, taking three of six gold medals since the women's event was added.