They aren't called the Golden Boys for nothing. Spain's victory at Sunday's Basketball World Championship in Tokyo was a surprise two times over — first because the Spaniards weren't dueling the talent-heavy U.S. team, which was ousted in the semi-finals, and second

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nginx/1.14.0 (Ubuntu) because Spain's star player, Pau Gasol, never suited up for the deciding game.

After Gasol, an all-star for the NBA's Memphis Grizzlies, broke his metatarsal in an emotional 75-74 semi-final win over Argentina on Friday, his teammates were left without him to face Greece, the reigning European champions who had sent the mighty American team packing. But with an ankle-booted Gasol leading cheers from the bench, the Spanish team destroyed Greece 70-47 in a game it broke wide open early in the second quarter.

The Spaniards shot well enough, hitting forty-three percent of their shots — and 12 of 30 from behind the three-point line, but it was their smothering defense (holding Greece to an abysmal 33% shooting), tenacious rebounding (40 to Greece's 32), and intense team unity (the red and gold nearly doubled their opponents' assists) that made this one of the more impressive victories in world championship play.

And what about the high-powered U.S. squad? After re-tooling its selection and preparation methods to prevent disastrous losses like those it suffered in Athens and Indianapolis, this team was supposed to be different. Loaded with NBA stars, including LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, and Finals MVP Dwyane Wade, and led by arguably the most admired tactical and inspirational basketball coach in America, Duke's Mike Krzyzewski, this team looked unbeatable.

"This American team was good and made a good showing; you can't really say they failed," says Marcos Prieto, spokesperson for the Spanish Basketball Federation. "But they ran into styles of defense and team play they aren't used to." It's a common observation about the ego-conscious U.S. players. "There's no question that the U.S., with its tradition, the physical excellence of its athletes, and its college system, has the best players," notes Prieto. "But in international competition, you have to sacrifice your own interests for other players, and for good of the team."

Lucas Saez Bravo, sportswriter for El Mundo newspaper, echoes this view of the American stars: "They're used to playing as individuals."

Teamwork is one thing the Spaniards practice religiously. Seven years after showing they meant business by beating the U.S. team in Lisbon for the 1999 Juniors title, these players, the best generation of basketball talent this country has seen, have maintained close bonds even as they have pursued vastly divergent career paths (four are currently under contract in the NBA). " More than anything, they're a group of friends," adds Saez Bravo. "They've been together a long time, and that's reflected on the court. When their best player was knocked out, they had the strength to come together and play for him."

While the Spanish victory may take some by surprise (including many Spaniards), it's probably not the last we'll see of this team. "Reyes, Gasol, Navarro — these guys haven't hit their prime," says Prieto. "And in the history of basketball, it's teams that win championships, not players."

• GEOFF PINGREE | Madrid
• It's the team, not the cream that earned the Basketball world championship