Pan American Games 2023/24

The basketball tournament at the Pan American Games is a quadrennial multi-sport event rather than a traditional league. It operates as a developmental platform and Olympic tune-up for national teams across the Americas, distinguishing it from the regional FIBA AmeriCup and the global Olympic Games. Teams are selected based on regional performance, primarily the FIBA AmeriCup, with the host nation qualifying automatically. Unlike the continental championship which serves as a primary qualifier for the FIBA World Cup and Olympics, this tournament does not offer direct Olympic qualification. Olympic spots are determined through the FIBA World Cup and separate qualifying tournaments. The competition format currently features eight teams per gender in the five-a-side event. These squads are split into two groups of four, with the top performers advancing to the knockout stage. A three-on-three version was introduced in 2019 in Lima. The men's five-a-side tournament began in 1951 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, coinciding with the inaugural Games. The women's competition followed in 1955, becoming a stable fixture shortly after. The United States leads the medal table with eight golds in the men's five-a-side event and seven in the women's. Brazil holds second place with six men's and five women's gold medals. At the 2023 Santiago Games, Argentina secured the men's title while Brazil won the women's. In the three-on-three format, the United States claimed victory in both categories in 2019 and 2023. Basketball was excluded from the 2027 Games in Lima due to a dispute between Panam Sports and FIBA over youth tournament inclusion. The sport is scheduled to return in Asunción, Paraguay, in 2031. Team rosters often comprise college players, young professionals, or NBA players resting between seasons, rather than the strongest available national squads. This composition highlights the event's role in player development rather than pure elite competition. The tournament reflects a unique balance between regional pride and international preparation. It remains a significant stop on the basketball calendar despite not being a direct path to Olympic glory. The exclusion in 2027 marks the first time the sport was omitted from the programme.