Biggest Threats for Team USA Ahead of Paris Olympics
With Team USA gearing up some of the world’s greatest players for the 2024 Olympics, they come in as the heavy favorites to take home the gold. Led by LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and Kevin Durant, this is one of the best Olympic rosters for the United States in years. Similarly, with the amount of foreign talent seen throughout the NBA, this may be one of the most competitive Olympics of all time. Here are the top three hurdles standing in front of Team USA’s quest for gold.
Honorable Mention: Germany
Let’s not forget that Germany was the country to come away with the gold medals in last year’s FIBA World Cup. Although many of the other countries were not at full strength, Germany comes into the Olympics as the reigning champion of a major tournament. Led by Dennis Schroder and Franz Wagner, Germany brings NBA talent and experience. After beating Team USA last year in the World Cup to reach the finals, Germany looks to do so once again against a revamped roster.
3. Serbia
Serbia came runner-up to Germany in the 2023 FIBA World Cup- and that was without Nikola Jokic. They are coming off an incredible tournament led by Bogdan Bogdanovic, just coming short of being champions. Now, add the three-time MVP and 2023 NBA Finals MVP to the mix. Jokic has been in the conversation for the best player in the world in the last few years and has caused problems for everyone on Team USA in years past. To add more challenge, Serbia is in Group C with the United States. They have a chance to hand the USA an early loss and see them for a second time in what would be an elimination game.
2. Canada
The United States’ northern neighbors are one of two teams that have a realistic chance of knocking them off. USA and Canada have already had their rivalry started when Canada beat the United States in the final game of the FIBA World Cup, along with back-and-forth talk from the players. Canada’s main advantages are its depth and the ability to match the United States’ pace. They bring in 10 NBA players, which is an Olympic record for most NBA players on a non-American Olympic team. Led by skilled guard play, Canada will lean on MVP Finalist, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and 2023 NBA Champion, Jamal Murray to keep up with the talent of the United States. Add in key scorers like R.J. Barrett and Andrew Nembhard, along with high-caliber defensive players in Luguentz Dort, Dillon Brooks, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Canada operates as an experienced team that can run with the United States.
1. France
France has already started making its impact felt in the basketball world, with the last two number-one overall draft picks coming out of their country. Now, the host country brings an impressive roster to the Olympics, looking to get revenge against the United States after falling six points shy of victory in the Tokyo Olympic Finals. Headlined by their big men- last year’s NBA Rookie of the Year, Victor Wembanyama, and Defensive Player of the Year, Rudy Gobert, France is already making opposing teams uncomfortable. Playing by FIBA’s rules, which include no defensive three seconds, having 7’4” and 7’1” defenders in the paint acts as a major advantage for France. To complement the bigs, France fills out a roster with Evan Fournier, Nicolas Batum, and Bilal Coulibaly. With a complete starting lineup of NBA players and the advantage of the home crowd, France has the firepower to pull off a shocking upset.
