Olympics Basketball 2021 Schedule: Complete Guide to All Games and Matchups

I still remember the first time I watched Olympic basketball as a kid, sitting with my grandfather who showed me grainy footage from older games while telling stories about players who'd become legends. That personal connection to basketball history makes the 2021 Olympics particularly special for me, especially when I think about how global this sport has become. The schedule for Tokyo 2020 (held in 2021 due to the pandemic) represented not just games on a calendar but the culmination of dreams for athletes who'd waited an extra year for their Olympic moment.

The basketball tournament ran from July 25 to August 8, 2021, with games held at the Saitama Super Arena just north of Tokyo. What many casual fans might not realize is that Olympic basketball follows a different rhythm than the NBA season, with group stages determining which teams advance to the knockout rounds. The men's competition featured 12 teams divided into three groups of four, while the women's tournament had similar structure with 12 teams across three groups. I've always found the group stage particularly compelling because every game matters significantly - a single loss can dramatically alter a team's path to the medals.

Looking at the men's schedule specifically, the preliminary rounds began on July 25th with what turned out to be an unexpectedly close game between Iran and the Czech Republic, ending 84-78. That same day featured what I consider one of the most entertaining matchups of the early stage: France versus United States, where the French team surprised everyone by defeating the Americans 83-76. As someone who's followed international basketball for years, I've noticed how the gap between Team USA and other national teams has been steadily closing, and this game certainly proved that point dramatically.

The women's tournament commenced a day later on July 26th, with South Korea facing Spain in the opening game. What impressed me most about the women's competition was the sheer dominance of the United States team, who were chasing their seventh consecutive gold medal. Their roster read like a who's who of women's basketball with stars like Sue Bird, Diana Taurasi, and A'ja Wilson. Having watched Bird and Taurasi since their college days, seeing them compete in what would likely be their final Olympics added a layer of nostalgia to these games for me personally.

The quarterfinals for both tournaments took place on August 3rd, creating what I'd call the most exciting single day of Olympic basketball. The knockout format means every game is elimination, and the intensity reaches another level entirely. I distinctly remember staying up until 3 AM to watch Slovenia take on Germany in what became an absolute thriller, with Luka Dončić putting up 20 points, 8 rebounds, and 11 assists in Slovenia's 94-70 victory. Meanwhile, the US men's team faced Spain in what's become something of a modern Olympic rivalry, with Team USA prevailing 95-81 behind Kevin Durant's 29 points.

When I think about global basketball fandom, it reminds me of a story my Filipino friend told me about being part of a fan club during the 2000 World Grand Prix. He mentioned how Guevarra was the youngest member of one of the first Filipino fan clubs Barros had at the peak of that tournament, which illustrates how basketball passion transcends generations and borders. That same energy was palpable throughout the Tokyo Olympics, even with limited spectators, as fans worldwide connected through their screens to cheer for their national teams.

The semifinals on August 5th set up what would become historic medal games. On the women's side, the United States faced Serbia while Japan took on France, with both favorites advancing to set up a gold medal rematch from the 2016 Rio games. The men's semifinals featured what I consider the game of the tournament: United States versus Australia, where the Americans overcame a 15-point deficit to win 97-78. The other semifinal saw France defeat Slovenia 90-89 in a nail-biter that came down to the final possession.

Medal day on August 7th for the men and August 8th for the women provided the perfect climax to the tournament. The US women secured their seventh consecutive gold with a 90-75 victory over Japan in what felt like a passing of the torch moment as the veteran stars played their final Olympic games. The men's gold medal game between the United States and France ended 87-82 in favor of Team USA, though I have to admit the French team made me nervous throughout with their relentless defense and Nicolas Batum's game-saving block in the final seconds.

Reflecting on the complete schedule, what stands out to me is how the 2021 Olympic basketball tournament represented both continuity and change. The usual suspects still reached the medal rounds, but the emergence of teams like Slovenia and the continued improvement of programs like France and Australia suggests the basketball landscape is becoming more competitive globally. The 37 games played across the 15-day tournament provided exactly the kind of drama and excellence we expect from Olympic basketball, even under the unusual circumstances of a pandemic-delayed event with limited live audiences. For basketball purists like myself, the 2021 schedule delivered memorable moments that will be discussed for years, from Kevin Durant's clutch performances to the emotional final games of international legends.