# Basketball at the 1976 Summer Olympics

Basketball events at the 1976 Summer Olympics was the ninth appearance of the sport of basketball as an official Olympic medal event. It took place from July 18 to July 27 at the Centre Étienne Desmarteau and the Montreal Forum in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Women's basketball was introduced to the Olympic program for the first time at this Games. The United States won the gold against Yugoslavia in the men's tournament, while the Soviet Union won the gold medal against the United States in the women's competition.

## Medal summary

| Event | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
| Men's details | United States (USA) Phil Ford Steve Sheppard Adrian Dantley Walter Davis Quinn Buckner Ernie Grunfeld Kenneth Carr Scott May Tate Armstrong Tom LaGarde Philip Hubbard Mitch Kupchak | Yugoslavia (YUG) Blagoja Georgievski Dragan Kićanović Vinko Jelovac Rajko Žižić Željko Jerkov Andro Knego Zoran Slavnić Krešimir Ćosić Damir Šolman Žarko Varajić Dražen Dalipagić Mirza Delibašić | Soviet Union (URS) Vladimir Arzamaskov Aleksandr Salnikov Valery Miloserdov Alzhan Zharmukhamedov Andrey Makeyev Ivan Edeshko Sergei Belov Vladimir Tkachenko Anatoly Myshkin Mikheil Korkia Aleksandr Belov Vladimir Zhigily |
| Women's details | Soviet Union (URS) Olga Barysheva Tamāra Dauniene Natalya Klimova Tatyana Ovechkina Angelė Rupšienė Nadezhda Shuvayeva Nadezhda Zakharova Uljana Semjonova Raisa Kurvyakova Nelli Feryabnikova Olga Sukharnova Tetiana Zakharova | United States (USA) Cindy Brogdon Susan Rojcewicz Ann Meyers Lusia Harris Nancy Dunkle Charlotte Lewis Nancy Lieberman Gail Marquis Patricia Roberts Mary Anne O'Connor Patricia Head Juliene Simpson | Bulgaria (BUL) Krasimira Bogdanova Diana Dilova Krasimira Gyurova Penka Metodieva Snezhana Mikhaylova Girgina Skerlatova Mariya Stoyanova Margarita Shtarkelova Petkana Makaveeva Nadka Golcheva Penka Stoyanova Todorka Yordanova |

## Qualification

A single NOC may enter up to one men's team with 12 players and up to one women's team with 12 players. Automatic qualifications were granted to the host country for both events plus the three medal winners from the previous Olympic Games for the men's tournament, and the three first places at the 1975 FIBA World Championship for the women's tournament. Additional spots for the men's tournament were decided via the continental qualification tournaments held by FIBA and an extra qualifying tournament held in Hamilton, Canada months prior to the contest. The remaining slots for the women's competition were also assigned via another tournament held in the same city.

### Men

| Means of qualification | Date | Venue | Berths | Qualified |
| Host nation | | | 1 | Canada |
| 1972 Olympic Tournament | 27 August–9 September 1972 | Munchin | 3 | Soviet Union |
| 1972 Olympic Tournament | 27 August–9 September 1972 | Munchin | 3 | United States |
| 1972 Olympic Tournament | 27 August–9 September 1972 | Munchin | 3 | Cuba |
| FIBA Africa Championship 1975 | 20 – 28 December 1975 | Alexandria | 1 | Egypt |
| 1975 Pan American Games | 13 – 25 October 1975 | Mexico City | 1 | Puerto Rico |
| 1975 FIBA Oceania Championship | 6–9 November 1975 | Australia | 1 | Australia |
| 1975 ABC Championship | 15 – 26 November 1975 | Bangkok | 1 | China |
| 1975 ABC Championship | 15 – 26 November 1975 | Bangkok | 1 | Japan |
| 1976 European Pre-Olympic Tournament | | Edinburgh | 1 | Italy |
| World Qualification Tournament | 22 June–3 July 1976 | Hamilton | 3 | Yugoslavia |
| World Qualification Tournament | 22 June–3 July 1976 | Hamilton | 3 | Czechoslovakia |
| World Qualification Tournament | 22 June–3 July 1976 | Hamilton | 3 | Mexico |
| Total | | | 12 | |

### Women

| Means of qualification | Date | Venue | Berths | Qualified |
| Host nation | | | 1 | Canada |
| 1975 FIBA World Championship for Women | 23 September – 14 October 1975 | Colombia | 3 | Soviet Union |
| 1975 FIBA World Championship for Women | 23 September – 14 October 1975 | Colombia | 3 | Japan |
| 1975 FIBA World Championship for Women | 23 September – 14 October 1975 | Colombia | 3 | Czechoslovakia |
| World Qualification Tournament | 24 June – 2 July 1976 | Hamilton | 2 | United States |
| World Qualification Tournament | 24 June – 2 July 1976 | Hamilton | 2 | Bulgaria |
| Total | | | 6 | |
* $^a$ Egypt withdrew from the Olympic Games after one match, following the boycott of several African countries against New Zealand. All matches involving Egypt were then forfeited.
* $^b$ Puerto Rico qualified after winning the silver medal at the 1975 Pan American Games, since the gold medal went to the United States, who had already qualified.
* $^c$ Replaced China.

## Format

Men's tournament:
* Two groups of six teams are formed, where the top two from each group advance to the semifinals.
* Third and fourth places from each group form an additional bracket to decide 5th–8th places in the final ranking.
* Fifth and sixth places from each group form an additional bracket to decide 9th–12th places in the final ranking.
Women's tournament:
* One round-robin group is formed containing all six teams, where the final standings are decided.
Tie-breaking criteria:
* Head to head results
* Goal average (not the goal difference) between the tied teams
* Goal average of the tied teams for all teams in its group

## Men's tournament
### Preliminary round

The first two places in each of the preliminary round groups advanced to the semifinals, where Group A teams would meet Group B teams. The Soviet Union and the United States, two of the powerhouses at this tournament, finished the preliminary round undefeated. The host nation, Canada, also qualified for the semifinals together with Yugoslavia.
Egypt played only one match, against Czechoslovakia, and then flew home supporting the boycott of several African countries. Their remaining matches were forfeited.

#### Group A

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Soviet Union | 5 | 5 | 0 | 548 | 374 | +174 | 10 | Semifinals |
| 2 | Canada (H) | 5 | 4 | 1 | 446 | 416 | +30 | 9 | Semifinals |
| 3 | Cuba | 5 | 3 | 2 | 448 | 402 | +46 | 8 | 5th–8th classification round |
| 4 | Australia | 5 | 2 | 3 | 472 | 481 | −9 | 7 | 5th–8th classification round |
| 5 | Mexico | 5 | 1 | 4 | 461 | 511 | −50 | 6 | 9th–12th classification round |
| 6 | Japan | 5 | 0 | 5 | 364 | 555 | −191 | 5 | 9th–12th classification round |
* July 18
| Canada | 104–76 | Japan |
* Centre Étienne Desmarteau, Montreal
* July 18
| Cuba | 111–89 | Australia |
* Centre Étienne Desmarteau, Montreal
* July 18
| Mexico | 77–120 | Soviet Union |
* Centre Étienne Desmarteau, Montreal
* July 19
| Canada | 84–79 | Cuba |
* Centre Étienne Desmarteau, Montreal
* July 19
| Soviet Union | 93–77 | Australia |
* Centre Étienne Desmarteau, Montreal
* July 19
| Mexico | 108–90 | Japan |
* Centre Étienne Desmarteau, Montreal
* July 21
| Mexico | 117–120 (OT) | Australia |
* Centre Étienne Desmarteau, Montreal
* July 21
| Japan | 56–97 | Cuba |
* Centre Étienne Desmarteau, Montreal
* July 21
| Soviet Union | 108–85 | Canada |
* Centre Étienne Desmarteau, Montreal
* July 23
| Japan | 63–129 | Soviet Union |
* Centre Étienne Desmarteau, Montreal
* July 23
| Mexico | 75–89 | Cuba |
* Centre Étienne Desmarteau, Montreal
* July 23
| Australia | 69–81 | Canada |
* Centre Étienne Desmarteau, Montreal
* July 24
| Cuba | 72–98 | Soviet Union |
* Centre Étienne Desmarteau, Montreal
* July 24
| Mexico | 84–92 | Canada |
* Centre Étienne Desmarteau, Montreal
* July 24
| Australia | 117–79 | Japan |
* Centre Étienne Desmarteau, Montreal

#### Group B

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | United States | 5 | 5 | 0 | 396 | 349 | +47 | 10 | Semifinals |
| 2 | Yugoslavia | 5 | 4 | 1 | 366 | 343 | +23 | 9 | Semifinals |
| 3 | Italy | 5 | 3 | 2 | 349 | 344 | +5 | 8 | 5th–8th classification round |
| 4 | Czechoslovakia | 5 | 2 | 3 | 418 | 406 | +12 | 7 | 5th–8th classification round |
| 5 | Puerto Rico | 5 | 1 | 4 | 323 | 363 | −40 | 6 | 9th–12th classification round |
| 6 | Egypt | 5 | 0 | 5 | 64 | 111 | −47 | 5 | 9th–12th classification round |
* July 18
| Yugoslavia | 84–63 | Puerto Rico |
* Centre Étienne Desmarteau, Montreal
* July 18
| Italy | 86–106 | United States |
* Centre Étienne Desmarteau, Montreal
* July 18
| Egypt | 64–103 | Czechoslovakia |
* Centre Étienne Desmarteau, Montreal
* July 20
* Forfeited
| Italy | 2–0 | Egypt |
* Centre Étienne Desmarteau, Montreal
* July 20
| United States | 95–94 | Puerto Rico |
* Centre Étienne Desmarteau, Montreal
* July 20
| Yugoslavia | 99–81 | Czechoslovakia |
* Centre Étienne Desmarteau, Montreal
* July 21
* Forfeited
| Puerto Rico | 2–0 | Egypt |
* Centre Étienne Desmarteau, Montreal
* July 21
| Czechoslovakia | 69–79 | Italy |
* Centre Étienne Desmarteau, Montreal
* July 21
| Yugoslavia | 93–112 | United States |
* Centre Étienne Desmarteau, Montreal
* July 22
| Czechoslovakia | 89–83 | Puerto Rico |
* Centre Étienne Desmarteau, Montreal
* July 22
| Yugoslavia | 88–87 | Italy |
* Centre Étienne Desmarteau, Montreal
* July 22
* Forfeited
| United States | 2–0 | Egypt |
* Centre Étienne Desmarteau, Montreal
* July 24
| United States | 81–76 | Czechoslovakia |
* Centre Étienne Desmarteau, Montreal
* July 24
* Forfeited
| Yugoslavia | 2–0 | Egypt |
* Centre Étienne Desmarteau, Montreal
* July 24
| Italy | 95–81 | Puerto Rico |
* Centre Étienne Desmarteau, Montreal

### Knockout stage
#### Championship bracket

| Semifinals (July 26) | Semifinals (July 26) | Semifinals (July 26) | Gold medal (July 27) | Gold medal (July 27) | Gold medal (July 27) |
| A1 | Soviet Union | 84 | | | |
| B2 | Yugoslavia | 89 | | | |
| B2 | Yugoslavia | 89 | B2 | Yugoslavia | 74 |
| | | | B1 | United States | 95 |
| B1 | United States | 95 | B1 | United States | 95 |
| A2 | Canada | 77 | Bronze medal (July 27) | Bronze medal (July 27) | Bronze medal (July 27) |
| | | | A1 | Soviet Union | 100 |
| | | | A2 | Canada | 72 |

#### Classification brackets

5th–8th Place
| Semifinals (July 25) | Semifinals (July 25) | Semifinals (July 25) | 5th place (July 27) | 5th place (July 27) | 5th place (July 27) |
| A3 | Cuba | 76 | | | |
| B4 | Czechoslovakia | 91 | | | |
| B4 | Czechoslovakia | 91 | B4 | Czechoslovakia | 75 |
| | | | B3 | Italy | 98 |
| B3 | Italy | 79 | B3 | Italy | 98 |
| A4 | Australia | 72 | 7th place (July 27) | 7th place (July 27) | 7th place (July 27) |
| | | | A3 | Cuba | 92 |
| | | | A4 | Australia | 81 |
9th–12th Place
| Semifinals (July 25) | Semifinals (July 25) | Semifinals (July 25) | 9th place (July 27) | 9th place (July 27) | 9th place (July 27) |
| A5 | Mexico | 2 | | | |
| B6 | Egypt | 0 | | | |
| B6 | Egypt | 0 | A5 | Mexico | 84 |
| | | | B5 | Puerto Rico | 89 |
| B5 | Puerto Rico | 111 | B5 | Puerto Rico | 89 |
| A6 | Japan | 91 | 11th place (July 27) | 11th place (July 27) | 11th place (July 27) |
| | | | B6 | Egypt | 0 |
| | | | A6 | Japan | 2 |
$^d$ Forfeited match.

## Women's tournament

The first Olympic Basketball Tournament for Women consisted of a single round-robin group, where final standings were determined by the group rankings. The Soviet team finished undefeated and won the gold medal, while the American team won the silver medal through a victory over the Bulgarian team that broke the tie between the two teams in favor of the American team.
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts |
| 1 | Soviet Union | 5 | 5 | 0 | 504 | 346 | +158 | 10 |
| 2 | United States | 5 | 3 | 2 | 415 | 417 | −2 | 8 |
| 3 | Bulgaria | 5 | 3 | 2 | 365 | 377 | −12 | 8 |
| 4 | Czechoslovakia | 5 | 2 | 3 | 351 | 359 | −8 | 7 |
| 5 | Japan | 5 | 2 | 3 | 405 | 400 | +5 | 7 |
| 6 | Canada (H) | 5 | 0 | 5 | 336 | 477 | −141 | 5 |
* July 19
| United States | 71–84 | Japan |
* Centre Étienne Desmarteau, Montreal
* July 19
| Soviet Union | 115–51 | Canada |
* Centre Étienne Desmarteau, Montreal
* July 19
| Czechoslovakia | 66–67 | Bulgaria |
* Centre Étienne Desmarteau, Montreal
* July 20
| Japan | 121–89 | Canada |
* Centre Étienne Desmarteau, Montreal
* July 20
| United States | 95–79 | Bulgaria |
* Centre Étienne Desmarteau, Montreal
* July 20
| Czechoslovakia | 75–88 | Soviet Union |
* Centre Étienne Desmarteau, Montreal
* July 22
| Bulgaria | 68–91 | Soviet Union |
* Centre Étienne Desmarteau, Montreal
* July 22
| Japan | 62–76 | Czechoslovakia |
* Centre Étienne Desmarteau, Montreal
* July 22
| United States | 89–75 | Canada |
* Centre Étienne Desmarteau, Montreal
* July 23
| Bulgaria | 66–63 | Japan |
* Centre Étienne Desmarteau, Montreal
* July 23
| Canada | 59–67 | Czechoslovakia |
* Centre Étienne Desmarteau, Montreal
* July 23
| United States | 77–112 | Soviet Union |
* Centre Étienne Desmarteau, Montreal
* July 25
| Canada | 62–85 | Bulgaria |
* Montreal Forum, Montreal
* July 26
| United States | 83–67 | Czechoslovakia |
* Montreal Forum, Montreal
* July 26
| Soviet Union | 98–75 | Japan |
* Montreal Forum, Montreal

## Final standings

| Rank | Men | Men | Men | Men | Women | Women | Women | Women |
| Rank | Team | Pld | W | L | Team | Pld | W | L |
| | United States | 7 | 7 | 0 | Soviet Union | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| | Yugoslavia | 7 | 5 | 2 | United States | 5 | 3 | 2 |
| | Soviet Union | 7 | 6 | 1 | Bulgaria | 5 | 3 | 2 |
| 4th | Canada | 7 | 4 | 3 | Czechoslovakia | 5 | 2 | 3 |
| 5th | Italy | 7 | 5 | 2 | Japan | 5 | 2 | 3 |
| 6th | Czechoslovakia | 7 | 3 | 4 | Canada | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 7th | Cuba | 7 | 4 | 3 | | | | |
| 8th | Australia | 7 | 2 | 5 | | | | |
| 9th | Puerto Rico | 7 | 3 | 4 | | | | |
| 10th | Mexico | 7 | 2 | 5 | | | | |
| 11th | Japan | 7 | 1 | 6 | | | | |
| 12th | Egypt | 7 | 0 | 7 | | | | |