Thirteen years ago, South Sudan declared independence and established itself as a nation. As the youngest country in the world, South Sudan does not have indoor basketball facilities, but they still held their first Olympic Games this summer in Paris. The team won its first Olympic victory on Sunday, and the team is led on its first Olympic run by head coach Royal Ivey, a former NBA player and Texas alum.

South Sudan has already made history by beating its opponent in the first round.

African nations do not have an illustrious history in Olympic basketball. However, South Sudan’s 90-79 win over Puerto Rico on Sunday made for a memorable second African nation’s victory in basketball at the Olympics since 1996.

While this is the first victory at the Olympics, it is not the first glimpse of potential success the country has seen. On July 20, South Sudan faced an Olympic powerhouse when it took on Team USA in an exhibition match. South Sudan gave the U.S. a run for its money in a match that ended with a one-point margin as Team USA defeated South Sudan 101-100.

“We’re not a secret anymore,” Ivey told ESPN after their match against Puerto Rico.

Since becoming South Sudan’s head coach, Ivey has helped set the team on a path to success. After taking over as coach in 2021, he led the team to an 11-1 record in the 2023 FIBA ​​Basketball World Cup African Qualifiers and reached the 2023 World Cup. Ivey and the South Sudanese secured a ticket to the Olympics after defeating Angola in the World Cup in September.

“Being at the Olympics and getting our first win — it’s so surreal,” Ivey told Texas Athletics after the game. “I couldn’t have experienced anything better than this. This is a movie.”

Ivey was a four-year starter during his time at Texas. He was praised for his defensive line and was twice selected to the Big 12 All-Defensive Team. Ivey and the Longhorns made three consecutive NCAA tournament appearances, including a trip to the Final Four in 2003. After 10 seasons in the NBA as a player, he has since taken on various coaching roles. Ivey is also currently an assistant coach with the Houston Rockets.

“I played 10 years in the NBA and now I’m a coach,” Ivey told Texas Athletics. “I never thought I would be a coach. I’m the OG, I’m the old boss. I thought I was going to be a schoolteacher or run my own prep school, but I’m a coach. My whole life people have told me I couldn’t do it, that I wasn’t fast enough, that I wasn’t smart enough, and I keep proving them wrong. Anything is achievable in life, and I’m living proof of that.”

With their first win under their belt, Ivey and the team will have to look forward to their next match against a familiar opponent: Team USA. In a rematch on Wednesday, July 31st at 2:00 p.m. ET, South Sudan and Ivey will once again challenge the US on the court.