Basketball in 2024 was firmly under U.S. control as both the men’s and women’s teams captured gold at the Paris Olympic Games.
The men’s team, dubbed the “New Dream Team,” claimed the top spot after defeating host France 98-87 in the final. The victory marked their fifth consecutive Olympic title and 17th overall, continuing the nation’s basketball dominance on the global stage. NBA stars like LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and Kevin Durant led the charge in what was another commanding performance.
In the women’s final, the U.S. narrowly edged out France 67-66, securing their eighth straight Olympic gold and 10th in total. Both victories underscored America’s unrelenting basketball prowess across both genders.
Boston Celtics ends 16-year NBA championship drought
Back in the NBA, the Boston Celtics ended their 16-year title drought with a dominant 4-1 victory over the Dallas Mavericks in the 2024 Finals. The championship marked the Celtics’ 18th in franchise history, surpassing the Los Angeles Lakers for the most NBA championships.
New York Liberty captures first WNBA championship
In the WNBA, the New York Liberty made history by winning its first-ever championship. The Liberty triumphed over the Minnesota Lynx 3-2 in a thrilling Finals series to claim the coveted title.
Panathinaikos wins first EuroLeague in 13 years
Across the Atlantic, Panathinaikos, led by Turkish head coach Ergin Ataman, took home the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague trophy. Ataman guided the Greek club to its first EuroLeague championship in 13 years, securing his third career title at Europe’s premier basketball competition.
Fenerbahce defends women’s EuroLeague title
Fenerbahce’s women’s basketball team continued its European dominance, winning the 2024 FIBA EuroLeague by trouncing French side ASVEL, 109-52, in the final. It was the Turkish club’s second consecutive EuroLeague title. Fenerbahce also claimed the FIBA Super Cup for the second year in a row, further cementing its position at the top of women’s basketball.
European basketball winners across other competitions
In other European competitions, Paris Basketball triumphed in the BKT European Cup, earning a spot in the EuroLeague for the next season. Unicaja Malaga won the FIBA Champions League, while Niners Chemnitz defeated Turkey’s Bahcesehir College to capture the FIBA Europe Cup. In the women’s FIBA Europe Cup, London Lions made history as it defeated Besiktas to claim the championship, marking a major achievement for Great Britain.
Al Riyadi Clinches FIBA WASL Season 2 and BCL Asia Titles
In Asia, Al Riyadi dominated Asian club basketball in 2024, winning the 2023-24 Lebanese Championship, FIBA West Asia Super League (WASL) Season 2, and the Final 8 title in Qatar, where they defeated rivals Sagesse. The team continued their success by sweeping the inaugural Basketball Champions League Asia (BCL Asia) in Dubai, earning a spot in the FIBA Intercontinental Cup in Singapore.
Gilas Pilipinas shocks world no. 6 Latvia, earns FIBA Asia Cup spot with win over New Zealand
In 2024, Gilas Pilipinas made remarkable progress, establishing themselves as a rising force in both Asia and the global basketball scene.
Led by coach Tim Cone, the team stunned sixth-ranked Latvia on its home court, showcasing unmatched physicality and unity. Kai Sotto and June Mar Fajardo dominated the paint, while naturalized player Justin Brownlee nearly recorded a triple-double with 26 points, nine rebounds, and nine assists, leading the Philippine national team to victory.
Building on its Olympic Qualifying Tournament run, the Philippine team then faced New Zealand. A historic win over the Tall Blacks at the Mall of Asia Arena secured its qualification for the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup.
Before that, Gilas Pilipinas captured the men’s basketball gold at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, in 2023, securing the country’s first Asiad basketball title in 61 years. The Philippines defeated Jordan 70-60 in a commanding final.