| Basketball at the I959 Pan American Games | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Venues | Alumni Gym (men's) and Oak Park High School (women's)[1][2] |
«1955 1963» | |
The men's basketball tournament at the 1959 Pan American Games was held from August 27 to September 6, 1959 in Chicago, United States.
Men's competition
Participating nations
USA
Held in Chicago, the USA hosted the Pan American Games for the first time. Coach Fred Schaus (West Virginia) and his 14-member squad marched through the competition with a 6-0 record to capture the USA’s third consecutive Pan American Games gold.[3]
Led by then-standout collegians and future NBA legends Oscar Robertson and Jerry West, the closest any team came to the United States was 14 points when Brazil fell to the U.S. 93-79 in the final.
Final ranking
| RANK | TEAM |
|---|---|
| 1. |  United States |
| 2. |  Puerto Rico |
| 3. |  Brazil |
| 4. |  Mexico |
| 5. |  Canada |
| 6. |  Cuba |
| 7. |  El Salvador |
Awards
| 1959 Pan American Games winners |
|---|
 United States Third title |
Women's competition
Participating nations
Final ranking
Awards
References
- Gustkey, Earl (August 5, 1987). "PAN AM GAMES LEGACY: 1959 : It's Not Exactly Peace and Harmony". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 5, 2014.
- Lyke, Bill (August 29, 1959). "Drive Out to the Pan-Am Games!". Chicago Tribune. pp. B1. ProQuest 182386533.
- "5x5 Men's Pan American Games History". FlippingBook. Retrieved 2026-04-29.