Basketball at the 1948 Summer Olympics was the second appearance of the sport of basketball as an official Olympic medal event. A total number of 23 nations entered the competition. Olympic basketball returned to indoor competition in Harringay Arena, after the disastrous weather conditions of the final game in the 1936 Summer Olympics.

Format

Medalists

Participating teams

Qualification berths for the Tournament

Group stage

Group A

Group B

Group C

Group D

Classification rounds

17th–23rd place classification rounds

A bye was given to Egypt as total number of teams is not a multiple of 2, which gave them bye to the classification semifinals. Also, Ireland was deemed to have finished last, due to the loss to Switzerland and a bye they earned from Iraq.

Classification Quarterfinals

21st–23rd place semifinal

17th–20th place semifinals

9th-16th place classification playoffs

Hungary forfeited all of their matches in the classification round, and a win were awarded to their respective opponents, which are marked by asterisks.

Classification quarterfinals

13th–16th place semifinals

9th–12th place semifinals

Final round

Quarterfinals

5th–8th place semifinals

Semifinals

Final classification matches

21st place match

19th place match

17th place match

15th place match

13th place match

11th place match

9th place match

7th place match

5th place match

Bronze medal match

Gold medal match

Awards

Participating nations

For the team rosters see: Basketball at the 1948 Summer Olympics – Men's team squads. Each country was allowed to enter one team of up to 14 players and they all were eligible for participation (with a maximum of five on the court at any given moment). A total of 298() basketball players from 23 nations competed at the London Games: ''() NOTE: There are only players counted, which participated in one game at least, according to the official report, because the rosters for the matches are unknown. It is also unknown up to now, if there were more reserve players.'' ''(*) and (**) It is uncertain if P. Benedek and J. Verbenyi played for Hungary in this tournament. The official report shows them, but Hungarian sources did not, however they are counted.''

Summary