# Basketball at the 1968 Summer Olympics

Basketball contests at the 1968 Summer Olympics was the seventh appearance of the sport of basketball as an official Olympic medal event. It took place at the Palacio de los Deportes in Mexico City, Mexico from October 13 to October 25, 1968. The United States defeated Yugoslavia to win their seventh consecutive gold medal in this sport, while the Soviet Union earned the bronze against Brazil.
The Americans' record of seven basketball gold medals in a row was matched by their women's team in 2021 when they won the 2020 Olympics and then broken by the women's team in 2024.

## Medal summary

| Gold: | Silver: | Bronze: |
| United States (USA) Mike Barrett John Clawson Don Dee Calvin Fowler Spencer Haywood Bill Hosket Jim King Glynn Saulters Mike Silliman Ken Spain Jo Jo White Charlie Scott | Yugoslavia (YUG) Dragutin Čermak Krešimir Ćosić Vladimir Cvetković Ivo Daneu Radivoj Korać Zoran Marojević Nikola Plećaš Trajko Rajković Dragoslav Ražnatović Petar Skansi Damir Šolman Aljoša Žorga | Soviet Union (URS) Anatoli Krikun Modestas Paulauskas Zurab Sakandelidze Vadim Kapranov Yuri Selikhov Anatoli Polivoda Sergei Belov Priit Tomson Sergei Kovalenko Gennadi Volnov Jaak Lipso Vladimir Andreev |

## Qualification

Automatic qualifications were granted to the host country and the first five places at the previous tournament. Additional spots were decided by various continental tournaments held by FIBA plus two additional tournaments that granted two extra berths each.
| Means of qualification | Date | Venue | Berths | Qualified |
| Host nation | | | 1 | Mexico |
| 1964 Olympic Tournament | 11–23 October 1964 | Tokyo | 5 | United States |
| 1964 Olympic Tournament | 11–23 October 1964 | Tokyo | 5 | Soviet Union |
| 1964 Olympic Tournament | 11–23 October 1964 | Tokyo | 5 | Brazil |
| 1964 Olympic Tournament | 11–23 October 1964 | Tokyo | 5 | Puerto Rico |
| 1964 Olympic Tournament | 11–23 October 1964 | Tokyo | 5 | Italy |
| 1967 Pan American Games | 24 July–2 August 1967 | Winnipeg | 2 | Cuba |
| 1967 Pan American Games | 24 July–2 August 1967 | Winnipeg | 2 | Panama |
| 1967 ABC Championship | 23 September – 1 October 1967 | Seoul | 2 | Philippines |
| 1967 ABC Championship | 23 September – 1 October 1967 | Seoul | 2 | South Korea |
| FIBA Africa Championship 1968 | 29 March–2 April 1968 | Casablanca | 2 | Senegal |
| FIBA Africa Championship 1968 | 29 March–2 April 1968 | Casablanca | 2 | Morocco |
| European Pre-Olympic Tournament | 25 May–3 June 1968 | Geneva | 2 | SFR Yugoslavia |
| European Pre-Olympic Tournament | 25 May–3 June 1968 | Geneva | 2 | Bulgaria |
| Pan-Continental Pre-Olympic Tournament | 26 September–2 October 1968 | Monterrey | 2 | Poland |
| Pan-Continental Pre-Olympic Tournament | 26 September–2 October 1968 | Monterrey | 2 | Spain |
| Total | | | 16 | |

## Format

* Two groups of eight teams are formed, where the top two from each group compete for the medals in a knockout round.
* The remaining places are defined as follows:
** Fifth through eighth places are decided in a separate bracket between the third and fourth places from each group in a separate bracket.
** Ninth through sixteenth places are decided between the fifth through eighth places from each group in separate brackets.

## Squads

For the team rosters see: Basketball at the 1968 Summer Olympics – Men's team rosters.

## Preliminary round

The top two teams from each group advance to the semifinals, while the remaining teams compete for 5th through 16th places in separate brackets. Both group leaders, the United States and the Soviet Union advanced undefeated to the knockout stage.

### Group A

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | United States | 7 | 7 | 0 | 599 | 392 | +207 | 14 | Semifinals |
| 2 | Yugoslavia | 7 | 6 | 1 | 592 | 511 | +81 | 13 | Semifinals |
| 3 | Italy | 7 | 5 | 2 | 562 | 539 | +23 | 12 | 5th–8th classification round |
| 4 | Spain | 7 | 4 | 3 | 557 | 548 | +9 | 11 | 5th–8th classification round |
| 5 | Puerto Rico | 7 | 3 | 4 | 493 | 468 | +25 | 10 | 9th–12th classification round |
| 6 | Panama | 7 | 2 | 5 | 572 | 624 | −52 | 9 | 9th–12th classification round |
| 7 | Philippines | 7 | 1 | 6 | 525 | 636 | −111 | 8 | 13th–16th classification round |
| 8 | Senegal | 7 | 0 | 7 | 383 | 565 | −182 | 7 | 13th–16th classification round |
October 13
| United States | 81–46 | Spain |
* Palacio de los Deportes, Mexico City
| Italy | 91–66 | Philippines |
* Palacio de los Deportes, Mexico City
| Puerto Rico | 69–26 | Senegal |
* Palacio de los Deportes, Mexico City
| SFR Yugoslavia | 96–85 | Panama |
* Palacio de los Deportes, Mexico City
October 14
| United States | 93–36 | Senegal |
* Palacio de los Deportes, Mexico City
| Spain | 108–79 | Philippines |
* Palacio de los Deportes, Mexico City
| Puerto Rico | 72–93 | SFR Yugoslavia |
* Palacio de los Deportes, Mexico City
| Italy | 94–87 | Panama |
* Palacio de los Deportes, Mexico City
October 15
| Senegal | 65–84 | SFR Yugoslavia |
* Palacio de los Deportes, Mexico City
| Spain | 88–82 | Panama |
* Palacio de los Deportes, Mexico City
| United States | 96–75 | Philippines |
* Palacio de los Deportes, Mexico City
| Puerto Rico | 65–68 | Italy |
* Palacio de los Deportes, Mexico City
October 16
| Philippines | 92–95 | Panama |
* Palacio de los Deportes, Mexico City
| Spain | 86–62 | Puerto Rico |
* Palacio de los Deportes, Mexico City
| Senegal | 55–81 | Italy |
* Palacio de los Deportes, Mexico City
| United States | 73–58 | SFR Yugoslavia |
* Palacio de los Deportes, Mexico City
October 18
| United States | 95–60 | Panama |
* Palacio de los Deportes, Mexico City
| Senegal | 54–64 | Spain |
* Palacio de los Deportes, Mexico City
| Philippines | 65–89 | Puerto Rico |
* Palacio de los Deportes, Mexico City
| Italy | 69–80 | SFR Yugoslavia |
* Palacio de los Deportes, Mexico City
October 19
| Panama | 69–80 | Puerto Rico |
* Palacio de los Deportes, Mexico City
| Philippines | 80–68 | Senegal |
* Palacio de los Deportes, Mexico City
| SFR Yugoslavia | 92–79 | Spain |
* Palacio de los Deportes, Mexico City
| United States | 100–61 | Italy |
* Palacio de los Deportes, Mexico City
October 20
| Panama | 94–79 | Senegal |
* Palacio de los Deportes, Mexico City
| Italy | 98–86 | Spain |
* Palacio de los Deportes, Mexico City
| SFR Yugoslavia | 89–68 | Philippines |
* Palacio de los Deportes, Mexico City
| United States | 61–56 | Puerto Rico |
* Palacio de los Deportes, Mexico City

### Group B

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Soviet Union | 7 | 7 | 0 | 642 | 408 | +234 | 14 | Semifinals |
| 2 | Brazil | 7 | 6 | 1 | 561 | 418 | +143 | 13 | Semifinals |
| 3 | Mexico (H) | 7 | 5 | 2 | 493 | 443 | +50 | 12 | 5th–8th classification round |
| 4 | Poland | 7 | 4 | 3 | 473 | 504 | −31 | 11 | 5th–8th classification round |
| 5 | Bulgaria | 7 | 3 | 4 | 456 | 478 | −22 | 10 | 9th–12th classification round |
| 6 | Cuba | 7 | 2 | 5 | 514 | 532 | −18 | 9 | 9th–12th classification round |
| 7 | South Korea | 7 | 1 | 6 | 453 | 530 | −77 | 8 | 13th–16th classification round |
| 8 | Morocco | 7 | 0 | 7 | 355 | 634 | −279 | 7 | 13th–16th classification round |
October 13
| Brazil | 98–52 | Morocco |
* Palacio de los Deportes, Mexico City
| Soviet Union | 91–50 | Poland |
* Palacio de los Deportes, Mexico City
| Mexico | 75–62 | South Korea |
* Palacio de los Deportes, Mexico City
| Cuba | 61–70 | Bulgaria |
* Palacio de los Deportes, Mexico City
October 14
| Soviet Union | 123–51 | Morocco |
* Palacio de los Deportes, Mexico City
| Poland | 77–67 | South Korea |
* Palacio de los Deportes, Mexico City
| Brazil | 75–59 | Bulgaria |
* Palacio de los Deportes, Mexico City
| Mexico | 76–75 | Cuba |
* Palacio de los Deportes, Mexico City
October 15
| Morocco | 59–77 | Bulgaria |
* Palacio de los Deportes, Mexico City
| Poland | 78–75 | Cuba |
* Palacio de los Deportes, Mexico City
| Soviet Union | 89–58 | South Korea |
* Palacio de los Deportes, Mexico City
| Mexico | 53–60 | Brazil |
* Palacio de los Deportes, Mexico City
October 16
| Soviet Union | 81–56 | Bulgaria |
* Palacio de los Deportes, Mexico City
| Morocco | 38–86 | Mexico |
* Palacio de los Deportes, Mexico City
| Poland | 51–88 | Brazil |
* Palacio de los Deportes, Mexico City
| South Korea | 71–80 | Cuba |
* Palacio de los Deportes, Mexico City
October 18
| Morocco | 48–85 | Poland |
* Palacio de los Deportes, Mexico City
| Soviet Union | 100–66 | Cuba |
* Palacio de los Deportes, Mexico City
| South Korea | 59–91 | Brazil |
* Palacio de los Deportes, Mexico City
| Mexico | 73–63 | Bulgaria |
* Palacio de los Deportes, Mexico City
October 19
| Morocco | 54–76 | South Korea |
* Palacio de los Deportes, Mexico City
| Cuba | 68–84 | Brazil |
* Palacio de los Deportes, Mexico City
| Bulgaria | 67–69 | Poland |
* Palacio de los Deportes, Mexico City
| Soviet Union | 82–62 | Mexico |
* Palacio de los Deportes, Mexico City
October 20
| Morocco | 53–89 | Cuba |
* Palacio de los Deportes, Mexico City
| Bulgaria | 64–60 | South Korea |
* Palacio de los Deportes, Mexico City
| Mexico | 68–63 | Poland |
* Palacio de los Deportes, Mexico City
| Soviet Union | 76–65 | Brazil |
* Palacio de los Deportes, Mexico City

## Knockout stage

The much anticipated final between the United States and the Soviet Union would have to wait four years. Yugoslavia stunned the Soviets 63–62 in the semifinals. In the championship game the Americans had a slim 32-29 lead at intermission but put the game out of reach with a 22-3 streak to start the second half.

### Medal bracket

| Semifinals (October 22) | Semifinals (October 22) | Semifinals (October 22) | Gold medal (October 25) | Gold medal (October 25) | Gold medal (October 25) |
| A1 | United States | 75 | | | |
| B2 | Brazil | 63 | | | |
| B2 | Brazil | 63 | A1 | United States | 65 |
| | | | A2 | SFR Yugoslavia | 50 |
| B1 | Soviet Union | 62 | A2 | SFR Yugoslavia | 50 |
| A2 | SFR Yugoslavia | 63 | Bronze medal (October 25) | Bronze medal (October 25) | Bronze medal (October 25) |
| | | | B2 | Brazil | 53 |
| | | | B1 | Soviet Union | 70 |

### Classification brackets

5th–8th Place
| Semifinals (October 22) | Semifinals (October 22) | Semifinals (October 22) | 5th place (October 25) | 5th place (October 25) | 5th place (October 25) |
| A3 | Italy | 52 | | | |
| B4 | Poland | 66 | | | |
| B4 | Poland | 66 | B3 | Poland | 65 |
| | | | B4 | Mexico | 75 |
| B3 | Mexico | 73 | B4 | Mexico | 75 |
| A4 | Spain | 72 | 7th place (October 25) | 7th place (October 25) | 7th place (October 25) |
| | | | A3 | Italy | 72 |
| | | | A4 | Spain | 88 |
9th–12th Place
| Semifinals (October 23) | Semifinals (October 23) | Semifinals (October 23) | 9th place (October 24) | 9th place (October 24) | 9th place (October 24) |
| A5 | Puerto Rico | 71 | | | |
| B6 | Cuba | 65 | | | |
| B6 | Cuba | 65 | A5 | Puerto Rico | 67 |
| | | | B5 | Bulgaria | 57 |
| B5 | Bulgaria | 83 | B5 | Bulgaria | 57 |
| A6 | Panama | 79 | 11th place (October 24) | 11th place (October 24) | 11th place (October 24) |
| | | | A6 | Cuba | 91 |
| | | | B6 | Panama | 88 |
13th–16th Place
| Semifinals (October 23) | Semifinals (October 23) | Semifinals (October 23) | 13th place (October 24) | 13th place (October 24) | 13th place (October 24) |
| A7 | Philippines | 86 | | | |
| B8 | Morocco | 57 | | | |
| B8 | Morocco | 57 | A7 | Philippines | 66 |
| | | | B7 | South Korea | 63 |
| B7 | South Korea | 76 | B7 | South Korea | 63 |
| A8 | Senegal | 59 | 15th place (October 24) | 15th place (October 24) | 15th place (October 24) |
| | | | B8 | Morocco | 38 |
| | | | A8 | Senegal | 42 |

## Awards

* 1968 Olympic Basketball Champions
* United States Seventh title

## Final standings

| Rank | Team | Pld | W | L |
| | United States | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| | SFR Yugoslavia | 9 | 7 | 2 |
| | Soviet Union | 9 | 8 | 1 |
| 4th | Brazil | 9 | 6 | 3 |
| 5th | Mexico | 9 | 7 | 2 |
| 6th | Poland | 9 | 5 | 4 |
| 7th | Spain | 9 | 5 | 4 |
| 8th | Italy | 9 | 5 | 4 |
| 9th | Puerto Rico | 9 | 5 | 4 |
| 10th | Bulgaria | 9 | 4 | 5 |
| 11th | Cuba | 9 | 3 | 6 |
| 12th | Panama | 9 | 2 | 7 |
| 13th | Philippines | 9 | 3 | 6 |
| 14th | South Korea | 9 | 2 | 7 |
| 15th | Senegal | 9 | 1 | 8 |
| 16th | Morocco | 9 | 0 | 9 |