 Because of the National Basketball Association lockout and unlike in the previous championship, the USA Basketball Association was unable to send a team composed of NBA players, thus causing the American national team roster consisting of professional basketball players playing in Europe and two college players.The tournament was won by FR Yugoslavia, in their first participation after the breakup of Yugoslavia, defeating Russia in the final 64-62.Greece and the United States qualified automatically, the first
because of its status as host country, and the latter due to
earning a gold medal in the 1996 Summer Olympics.