The USA this week announced the 12 men who will try to win a third consecutive Olympic basketball title at the Rio 2016 Games in August. The class of 2016 will be following in the giant footsteps of a host of iconic players, not least the legendary 1992 ‘Dream Team’.

But who are the greatest to have donned the famous jersey? The debate is fierce, and rightly so, but Rio2016.com has compiled a list of 10 of the finest basketball players to have represented the USA at the Olympic Games. Enjoy...

Chris Paul (London 2012)

(Photo: Getty Images/Christian Petersen)

Paul helped lead the USA back to the top of the podium, taking golds at Beijing 2008 and London 2012, after the team had finished with bronze at Athens 2004. In London, Paul averaged 8.3 points and 5.3 assists per game, running a team that included LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Carmelo Anthony to perfection.

Magic Johnson (Barcelona 1992)

(Photo: Getty Images/Mike Powell)

When the 1992 ‘Dream Team’ was assembled, Magic Johnson had already retired from the NBA. But he returned for the Olympic Games in Barcelona and averaged 8.0 points and 5.5 assists, bossing a team including Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley and other legends.

Michael Jordan (Barcelona 1992)

Jordan led USA to gold at the Los Angeles 1984 Games, averaging 17 points a game. But it was eight years later in Barcelona where Jordan, now playing as a professional, really made history as part of the ‘Dream Team’. Surrounded by greats, he averaged 14.9 points, 4.8 rebounds and an incredible 4.6 steals. This was a Jordan that was about to enter the peak of his prime.

Kobe Bryant (Beijing 2008)

(Photo: Getty Images/Jeff Gross)

Bryant, who retired to huge fanfare this year, was one of the faces of the 2008 team in Beijing, along with LeBron James and Dwyane Wade. He averaged 15 points for the ‘Redeem Team’ and notched up 20 points in the gold medal game against Spain.

Kevin Durant (London 2012)

(Photo: Getty Images/Christian Petersen )

Durant burst onto the international scene in 2010, leading Team USA to the FIBA world championship, in which he was elected most valuable player. He shined again at the 2012 Olympic Games, top-scoring with 19.5 points per game on route to the top of the podium. He will be going for a second gold at Rio 2016.

LeBron James (Beijing 2008)

(Photo: Getty Images/MN Chan)

LeBron had a great all-around Games in Beijing, averaging 15.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 2.4 steals per game. He was also pretty good at London 2012, with 13.3 points, 5.6 rebounds and 5.6 assists. But, put the 2008 LeBron, one at the peak of his athleticism, alongside the likes of a young Michael Jordan and Kevin Durant, and Team USA is unguardable.

Charles Barkley (Barcelona 1992)

In a team that had Karl Malone and Michael Jordan, two of the biggest scorers in NBA history, as well as other titans of the game like Magic Johnson and Larry Bird, Barkley was the top-scorer with an average of 18 points a game. Ruthless in the key, he could even play as a centre in this historic team.

Tim Duncan (Athens 2004)

(Photo: Allsport/Ronald Martinez)

The lifetime San Antonio Spurs forward’s lone trip to the Olympic Games was a disappointing campaign at Athens 2004, when the United States finished with a bronze medal. But Duncan himself was excellent, with 12.9 points and 9.1 rebounds per game.

David Robinson (Atlanta 1996)

(Photo: Getty Images/Jed Jacobsohn)

Robinson had already won two Olympic medals – gold at Barcelona 1992 and bronze at Seoul 1988 – but he really made his mark on the second version of the ‘Dream Team’ at Atlanta 1996, where he top scored with an average of 12.8 points per game.

Shaquille O’Neal (Atlanta 1996)

Shaq averaged 9.3 points and 5.3 rebounds on home turf at the 1996 Olympic Games. Those numbers may not be flashy, but he led Team USA to the 1994 world championship with 18.0 points and 8.5 rebounds, while winning MVP honors. Shaq had some nice moments on the international stage, and this younger, dominant version of himself is impossible to resist.