Why do the usa basketball team wear different jersey number than their regular number?

Question

Why do the usa basketball team wear different jersey number than their regular number?

Answer 1

in traditional international basketball, certain numbers symbolize different positions/status.

number 0 or 1 usually associates with center, while number 10 or 11 symbolizes the team's captain/leading scorer, namely the SF/SG position.

since the Olympic games are going by international rules, it is fitting that the players select numbers fitting to international play. Besides, like people pointed out already, there are certain restrictions on the numbers available.

Answer 2

To sell more jersey .

Answer 3

I think that for international players, they might find it harder to indentify who they are? I know they dont know the faces of most NBA players but they know their names

Answer 4

Maybe it's their second favorite number. Or they where pick by the owner of the USA team that way. But not all players has a different jersey number. Carmelo Anthony wears the same number in a Nuggets uniform.

Answer 5

Team USA player are allow to choose number between 1-20 or 1-11 or 1-15 i dont remember

Answer 6

cause international players can only choose jersey numbers 4-15 if im not wrong.

Answer 7

International rules only allow players to wear numbers between 4 and 15.  Since most players wear numbers outside that range in the NBA, they have to change to comply with FIBA rules.