Colombia

The development of organized basketball in Colombia began in the mid-20th century, with the national team slowly establishing itself within the South American basketball scene.

Colombia made its first appearance at the FIBA AmeriCup (then known as the Tournament of the Americas) in 1981, marking its entry into continental competition. While the team struggled to advance beyond the early rounds, the participation helped lay the foundation for the country’s basketball program.

In the 1990s and 2000s, Colombia remained a modest competitor in the region, often overshadowed by the traditional South American powers such as Argentina, Brazil, and Venezuela. The team primarily competed in the South American Basketball Championship, where it regularly finished in the middle tier of the standings.

A new generation of Colombian players emerged during the 2010s, many of whom competed professionally in the Baloncesto Profesional Colombiano (the Colombian professional league) and in international leagues. This generation helped Colombia qualify again for the FIBA AmeriCup in 2017, hosted in Medellín. This was Colombia's first appearance at the Americas' prime basketball event. Colombia's standout player, Juan Palacios, power forward in the Basketball Champions League returned to the national team for the first time since 2009. The home-court appearance brought increased visibility to Colombian basketball, although the team was eliminated in the group stage.

In recent years, Colombia has participated in the Basketball World Cup qualification, showing steady improvement and competing against top-ranked teams in the hemisphere. While the team has yet to qualify for a FIBA Basketball World Cup or the Olympic Games, Colombia continues to build its program and develop players capable of competing at a higher international level.