The field is set for the men’s Olympic basketball tournament in Paris after Greece, Puerto Rico, Brazil and Spain claimed the final four spots through Olympic qualifying tournaments held at the beginning of July. And now that we know how the three groups will shake out when the 2024 Paris Olympics kick off on July 27, it makes sense to size up how these teams rank against each other.
Obviously it’s no secret that the United States is in a league of its own in this competition. Even more so this year as USA men’s basketball director Grant Hill has built perhaps the best Olympic team since the 2008 “Redeem Team.” But as talented as that roster is, international basketball has never been in a better position to challenge the U.S.
France has twin Eiffel Towers in Victor Wembanyama and Rudy Gobert, and as the host country will have the strength of the fans during the Paris Games. Canada, on paper, has the most NBA-level talent next to Team USA, and should challenge them when the knockout rounds begin. There’s also Nikola Jokic and Serbia, as well as Giannis Antetokounmpo and Greece. It should be the most exciting men’s Olympic basketball tournament we’ve had in awhile just on name recognition alone.
As we prepare for the Paris Olympics to get going, here’s how the 12 teams competing in the men’s basketball tournament rank.
12. South Sudan
South Sudan will compete at the Olympics in men’s basketball for the first time ever, after finishing as the highest-ranked African country (17th) at the FIBA World Cup in 2023. They could have a roster that features Phoenix Suns center Bol Bol, who has been named as part of Sudan’s training camp roster for the Olympic Games. Bol would certainly have an impact on the defensive side of the ball, and he’s shown flashes of being able to handle the ball. If he suits up for Sudan in France, he’ll likely be joined by Carlik Jones, who had a standout performance during the World Cup last summer, where he led all players in assists per game (10.6).
11. Japan
Japan finished the highest of any Asian country in the FIBA World Cup last summer (19th), so they were awarded with a ticket to the Paris Olympics. And after going 0-3 during the last Olympic Games as the host country in 2020, they’ll be looking to at least put one game in the win column this time around. They’ll once again be led by Lakers forward Rui Hachimura, as well as Yuta Watanabe who spent last season with the Suns and Grizzlies. They’ll have a tough go of things in Group B with France and Germany, but the matchup against Brazil should provide for an opportunity to get at least one win.
10. Brazil
Brazil punched its ticket to Paris after beating host country Latvia in the Olympic qualifiers. Led by former first-round pick Bruno Caboclo, the Brazilians will have a tough road ahead if they want to make it out of the group stage as they’ll face France and Germany in Group B. Barring some surprising turn of events, Brazil will have to hope they finish with one of the top two records as a third-placed team to make it to the knockout rounds, but in that group, it may be difficult to do.
9. Puerto Rico
The last time the Puerto Rican men’s basketball team was in the Olympics they pulled off a stunning upset by beating the United States in the group stage during the 2004 Athens Games. It ended up being the start of what was a tumultuous Olympic run for the Americans, one that ended in a disappointing bronze medal. Twenty years later and Puerto Rico is back in the Olympics, and will once again be in the same group as the United States, waiting to pull off another shocker. The motivation and energy will certainly be there as New Orleans Pelicans guard Jose Alvarado will ensure he makes life difficult for whoever he’s guarding. Puerto Rico may be heavy underdogs in a group that also features Serbia, but they showed in the qualifying tournament that they’re capable of mucking things up for their opponents and catching them off guard to pull out a win. That’s the perfect recipe to win some of these Olympic matches.
8. Spain
Spain went undefeated in their Olympic qualifying tournament to earn a spot in Paris, highlighted by seven-year NBA player Willy Hernangomez, who averaged over 18 points during the qualifying tournament. Memphis Grizzlies forward Santiago Aldama, also had a standout performance during the tournament, averaging 17 points and eight rebounds on a roster that’s littered with current or former NBA players like Usman Garuba, Lorenzo Brown, Rudy Fernandez and Juancho Hernangomez. It may not be the Spain that used to feature Pau and Marc Gasol and that won silver at the 2012 Olympic Games, but Spain always fields a competitive team that can pull off some upsets. And they’re in the perfect group to do so with Australia, Greece and Canada.
7. Greece
Giannis will head to the Olympics for the first time as he led the Greek team to qualify for the Games for the first time since 2008. It’s difficult to project what we’ll get from the Greece team, because outside of Giannis there’s not a ton of NBA-level talent on the roster like other international squads. But having Giannis alone is already a great spot to be in. They just cruised to an Olympic bid on the strength of his performance.
When it comes to the upcoming Olympics, Greece has a chance to surprise everyone by advancing to the knockout round in their group. With very few players capable of slowing down Giannis, avoiding tough opponents like Team USA, France, and Serbia in the group stage could work in their favor. However, Canada will pose a tough challenge, and Australia’s talented lineup cannot be underestimated. Giannis’ ability to carry a team on his own could be a game-changer for Greece.
**Australia**: Boasting a strong lineup of role players like Patty Mills, Joe Ingles, and Matthew Dellavedova, Australia secured a bronze medal in the last Olympics. However, facing tough competitors like Canada, Greece, and Spain in their group this time around will be a daunting task. While they have NBA-level talent, international basketball is unpredictable, making their journey to the podium uncertain.
**Serbia**: With Nikola Jokic leading the team, Serbia’s chances look promising after their World Cup runner-up finish. Jokic’s versatile game will be key, along with Bogdan Bogdanovic’s scoring abilities. A matchup against Team USA in the group stage will set the tone for their tournament journey.
**Germany**: As the reigning FIBA World Cup champions, Germany’s roster, led by Franz Wagner and Dennis Schroder, shows promise. Their victory over Team USA in the World Cup semis proves their ability to compete at a high level. With a similar lineup this time, Germany could be a contender for a medal.
**France**: Coming in second in the last Olympics, France’s addition of Victor Wembanyama adds a new dimension to their team. Wembanyama’s recent standout performance against Germany highlights his impact. With a dangerous lineup and the potential for a gold medal rematch, France is a team to watch out for.
**Canada**: Despite missing Andrew Wiggins, Canada’s roster is stacked with talent like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jamal Murray. Their defensive prowess and offensive firepower make them a tough opponent. With the second-highest number of NBA players, Canada has the right pieces to make a strong Olympic run.
**USA**: The United States enters the tournament as the favorite, boasting a star-studded roster featuring Joel Embiid, LeBron James, and Kevin Durant. With a mix of young talent and experienced veterans, Team USA is poised for success. After a disappointing fourth-place finish in the World Cup, they are motivated to reclaim the gold medal in Tokyo. phrase: “I am going to the store”
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