Basketball contests at the 1964 Summer Olympics was the sixth appearance of the sport of basketball as an official Olympic medal event.

The United States defeated the Soviet Union to win their sixth consecutive gold medal at this event, while Brazil earned the bronze against Puerto Rico.

[1] Automatic qualifications were granted to the host country and the first eight places at the previous tournament.

Additional spots were decided by various continental tournaments held by FIBA plus two additional intercontinental tournaments that granted six extra berths total, after the withdrawal of United Arab Republic and Czechoslovakia.

Both group leaders, the United States and the Soviet Union advanced undefeated to the knockout stage.