Nikola Jokic, Giannis Antetokounmpo, LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, Joel Embiid, Jayson Tatum, Anthony Davis, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Victor Wembanyama, Jamal Murray, and many other stars will play in the Paris Olympics.
After the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournaments (OQTs) are over, it's time for the most-anticipated basketball event that only rolls around every four years.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
| Team: |
Oklahoma City Thunder Canada |
| Position: | PG |
| Age: | 26 |
| Height: | 198 cm |
| Weight: | 82 kg |
| Birth place: | Toronto, Canada |
The 2024 Olympic Basketball Tournament in Paris is set to feature 12 teams, and among them, 11 All-NBA players from the first, second, and third teams, as highlighted by BasketNews' Donatas Urbonas.
This number is just shy of the all-time high set at the Atlanta 1996 Olympics, which boasted 12 All-NBA players. The Paris tournament could have matched this record, but Kawhi Leonard withdrew from Team USA just before the Olympics.
Headlining the Paris player pool are four first-team nominees: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokic, and Jayson Tatum. They are joined by three second-team members: Anthony Davis, Kevin Durant, and Anthony Edwards) and four third-team players: Devin Booker, Stephen Curry, Tyrese Haliburton, and LeBron James.
With such incredible talent on display, BasketNews takes a closer look at the biggest names set to compete in Paris.
Patty Mills | G | Australia
We can't talk about this list without mentioning this player. "Patty Mills, Patty kills" is the phrase that comes to mind when this 35-year-old veteran suits up for the Boomers and wreaks havoc on his FIBA opponents.
Mills is a true FIBA and Olympic basketball legend. Even if he has a rough season or health issues, you can always count on him to shine when it's time to represent his national team.
Before moving to Miami in early March, Mills was waived by the Atlanta Hawks. He played in just 19 of Atlanta's 58 games last season, averaging 2.7 points and 1.1 rebounds in 10.6 minutes per game -- his lowest stats since his rookie year with Portland back in 2009-10.
But as we've seen, FIBA is a different story for Mills. Since 2012, he has participated in five major FIBA tournaments -- the Olympics and the World Cup -- averaging at least 18.6 points per game in each championship.
Described as a "flat-out legend" by NBA great and former teammate Kevin Durant, Mills has played 15 seasons in the strongest league, totaling 892 career games. He spent a decade with the San Antonio Spurs, winning a championship in 2014.
Mills finally earned his long-awaited medal with Australia at the Tokyo Olympics, winning bronze. With a new generation of Boomers like Josh Giddey, Josh Green, and Dyson Daniels, this might be his last chance to shine in the Olympics.
Rui Hachimura | F | Japan
Hachimura missed last year's World Cup, but his Tokyo Olympic campaign was nothing short of spectacular, averaging 22.3 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 2.0 assists.
This time, he's heading to the Paris Olympic Games after his most efficient and productive NBA season yet. He averaged 13.6 points (his best since 2020-21) while shooting a career-best 53.7% from the field and 42.2% from 3-point range (on 3.4 attempts per game, both career highs).
As a starter in the final 32 games of the last regular season, Hachimura recorded 15.9 points and 5.1 rebounds, shooting 57.6% from the floor and 44.4% from downtown.
During this stretch, the Los Angeles Lakers went 22-10, eventually clinching a playoff spot with a win over the New Orleans Pelicans in the Play-In Tournament.
Throughout the last offseason, he worked out with LeBron James, so there is no coincidence that Hachimura is leaping to new individual heights.
"I was really appreciative of the time and the energy he [LeBron] spent with me. I learned a lot of stuff, and I think I was able to do that this season. I kind of watched him closely and worked out with him, and it made me more confident," Hachimura said.
Who knows, maybe he'll meet his mentor again in the Olympics.
Franz Wagner | F | Germany
When we talk about this golden German generation, it's always a toss-up between Franz Wagner and Dennis Schroder. This duo helped Germany claim gold at the FIBA World Cup 2023.
Despite an injury-riddled World Cup last year, where he missed four games, Wagner was named to the tournament's All-Second Team, averaging 16.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 3.0 assists. He scored 22 points in the semifinals against Team USA and 19 points in the final against Serbia.
Last season, Wagner played and started in 72 regular season games with the Orlando Magic, posting 19.7 points, 5.3 boards, 3.7 assists, and 1.1 steals. The 22-year-old was a consistent performer, scoring in double figures 69 times, hitting 20+ points 33 times, and reaching 30+ points seven times.
He also shone in the playoffs, averaging 18.9 points and 6.9 rebounds per game, which led to Orlando signing him to a five-year extension worth up to $270 million.
Wagner and Schroder form a lethal combo on the FIBA court. The big question is whether they can lead Germany to its first Olympic medal in basketball.
Rudy Gobert | C | France
The 32-year-old "Stifle Tower" has earned five medals with the senior men's national team, including silver at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, and stands as one of the elite rim protectors in basketball. Paired with Victor Wembanyama, this duo could be a cheat code in FIBA basketball.
Gobert recently claimed his fourth NBA Defensive Player of the Year award, becoming the third player in league history to achieve this feat, joining Dikembe Mutombo and Ben Wallace. The Minnesota Timberwolves center previously won the honor in 2020-21, 2018-19, and 2017-18.
He's also the first player in Timberwolves' history to receive this recognition. Under Gobert's defensive presence, the T-Wolves boasted the best defensive rating, allowed the fewest points per game, and held opponents to the lowest field goal percentage in the NBA.
This past season, Gobert averaged 14.0 points on 66.1% shooting, along with a team-best 12.9 rebounds and a team-high 2.13 blocks per game. His 2.13 blocks were his highest since the 2020-21 season (2.68 bpg).
He ranked second in the NBA in rebounding (12.9 rpg), second in field goal percentage (.661), second in offensive rebounds (3.8 rpg), fourth in defensive rebounds (9.2 rpg), sixth in blocks (2.13 bpg), and fifth in double-doubles (54).
Jamal Murray | G | Canada
This summer marks the return of the Denver Nuggets star and 2023 NBA champion to the national team.
At 19 years old, Murray played on home soil at the Toronto 2015 Pan American Games, where he scored 22 points in the fourth quarter and overtime, helping Team Canada defeat Team USA and advance to the gold medal final.
Since being drafted by the Nuggets in 2016, Murray has steadily improved, with his best season coming in 2023-24. He averaged 21.2 points, 6.5 assists, and 4.1 rebounds per game and shot a career-best 42.5 percent from beyond the arc.
Murray was a key player in the Nuggets' 2023 championship run and continued to shine in the last postseason, including hitting a pair of game-winners in the first round against the Lakers.
Last year, Team Canada secured bronze at the FIBA World Cup. With Murray back on the team, they could aim even higher despite being in the Olympics' "Group of Death" alongside Greece, Spain, and Australia.
Victor Wembanyama | C | France
A global phenomenon, unicorn, generational talent, alien, or simply the reigning NBA Rookie of the Year. Whatever you call him, San Antonio Spurs youngster Victor Wembanyama has proven that the hype surrounding him was well-deserved.
For the past season, Wemby averaged 21.4 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and a league-leading 3.6 blocks per game over 71 appearances. He led all NBA rookies in scoring, rebounding, and blocks per game.
The 20-year-old Frenchman also finished his rookie season as the first player in NBA history to score 1,500 points (1,522), block 250 shots (254), and hit 100 three-point shots (128) in a single season.
Wembanyama joined an elite group of players, including Shaquille O'Neal, David Robinson, and Alonzo Mourning, as one of only four rookies since the NBA/ABA merger to average at least 20 points, 10 rebounds, and 3 blocks per game.
In his debut season, Wemby recorded 43 double-doubles and two triple-doubles. He became the first NBA player in more than three years to block 10 or more shots in a triple-double, achieving this in a win against the Toronto Raptors in February.
Meanwhile, his French national team experience includes four FIBA World Cup 2023 European Qualifiers appearances, where he registered 19.0 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 2.8 blocks per game.
Wembanyama is just getting used to playing alongside another big man like Gobert, but the potential of this duo is undoubtedly intriguing.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | G | Canada
SGA, a two-time NBA All-Star and recent All-NBA First Team selection with the Oklahoma City Thunder, returns to represent Canada this summer.
He was named to the All-Star Five after averaging 24.5 points per game at last summer's FIBA World Cup.
When the Toronto native steps onto the court in Lille (group stage), he will follow in the footsteps of his mother, Charmaine Gilgeous, who competed for Antigua and Barbuda in the women's 400 meters at the Barcelona 1992 Olympic Games.
During the 2023-24 season, the 26-year-old appeared in 75 games (all starts) and led OKC with impressive stats: 30.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, 6.2 assists, and a league-leading 2.0 steals per game, shooting 53.5% from the field. His scoring ranked third in the NBA.
SGA and Murray could contend for the best starting duo in the Paris Olympics, even considering the talent Team USA brings to the roster this summer.
Giannis Antetokounmpo | F | Greece
It's practically guaranteed: death, taxes, and Giannis putting up monstrous numbers.
In the recently finished FIBA OQT in Piraeus, Giannis led Greece to the Paris Olympics with 22.7 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.0 steals, 1.0 blocks, and 23.0 EFF in just 22.5 minutes.
In Paris, Giannis will carry Greece's flag, a tremendous journey considering he was stateless and struggled to obtain Greek citizenship until he turned 19, navigating through bureaucratic challenges and even changing his last name from Adetokunbo to Antetokounmpo.
During his club season, the 'Greek Freak' once again delivered an MVP-level performance with the Milwaukee Bucks, averaging 30.4 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 6.5 assists per game.
Despite a calf injury cutting short his playoff run, Antetokounmpo had a historic season, earning his sixth consecutive First-Team All-NBA selection and making NBA history by being the first player to average at least 30 points while shooting 60% from the field in a season.
He also extended his All-Star Game streak to eight consecutive appearances, second only to LeBron James (20) among active players.
Giannis' consistency makes him an unstoppable force in every championship he competes in, setting high expectations for his leadership once again with Hellas.
Nikola Jokic | C | Serbia
Speaking more about consistency, Jokic glides into that just perfect. A three-time NBA MVP. That says everything.
The nine-year NBA veteran from Serbia is the ninth player to win three or more MVPs, joining Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (six), Michael Jordan (five), Bill Russell (five), Wilt Chamberlain (four), LeBron James (four), Larry Bird (three), Magic Johnson (three) and Moses Malone (three).
In the 2023-24 NBA regular season, Jokic ranked among the league leaders, averaging 26.4 points (10th), 12.4 rebounds (4th), and 9.0 assists (3rd) per game.
'The Joker' is also only the fourth NBA MVP in history, following LeBron James (2012), Kobe Bryant (2008), and Michael Jordan (1992), to lead his team at the Olympic Games.
The 29-year-old has Olympic experience from Rio 2016, where Serbia earned silver behind Team USA. He contributed 9.1 points and 6.0 rebounds per game, marking his sole senior national team medal despite also competing in events like the FIBA World Cup 2019 and FIBA EuroBasket 2022.
Hopefully for Serbia, the Olympic spirit will help them get the best from Jokic.
Team USA
Apart from the relatively smaller names like Jrue Holiday and Derrick White, it's challenging to single out just one or two players from this year's stacked Team USA roster.
With options ranging from LeBron James and Kevin Durant to Stephen Curry and rising star Anthony Edwards, the list of standout players goes on and on. It's safer and more sensible to pick the team as a whole.
Team USA features 12 athletes with extensive USA Basketball experience, headlined by three-time Olympic champion KD and NBA's all-time scoring leader LeBron, who has two Olympic gold medals.
In total, this squad brings 11 NBA All-Stars, four MVPs, and seven NBA champions.
Durant, who is also a 2010 World Cup gold medalist, is the USA's all-time Olympic statistical leader in total points (435), scoring average (19.8 ppg), field goals (146), 3-point field goals (74), and free throws (69). He ranks third in rebounds (118) and blocks (16) and fourth in games played (24) and assists (71).
James, who has scored 273 points (3rd all-time among Americans) in the Olympics, will compete in his fourth Games and first since 2012. He won gold in 2008 and 2012 and made his Olympic debut in 2004 (bronze). LeBron also owns a 2007 FIBA Tournament of the Americas gold medal.
Several players, including Bam Adebayo, Devin Booker, Anthony Davis, Jayson Tatum, and Holiday, have also secured Olympic gold medals, contributing to Team USA's 34-4 record in Olympic play since LeBron's debut in 2004.
Curry is a two-time World Cup champion (2010, 2014), but he will make his Olympic debut this summer. He is one of eight players who has competed at the World Cup, including James (2006), Durant (2010), Davis (2014), Tatum (2019), White (2019), Edwards (2023), and Tyrese Haliburton (2023).
With the addition of 2023 NBA MVP Joel Embiid to the squad, Team USA remains the favorite to secure their fifth consecutive Olympic gold medal, continuing their dominant international reign over the past two decades.
Honorable mentions
- Josh Giddey (Australia)
- Joe Ingles (Australia)
- Dante Exum (Australia)
- Nick Calathes (Greece)
- Lorenzo Brown (Spain)
- Hernangomez brothers (Spain)
- Rudy Fernandez (Spain)
- RJ Barrett (Canada)
- Dillon Brooks (Canada)
- Lu Dort (Canada)
- Bruno Caboclo (Brazil)
- Yuta Watanabe (Japan)
- Nicolas Batum (France)
- Evan Fournier (France)
- Nando de Colo (France)
- Dennis Schroder (Germany)
- Moritz Wagner (Germany)
- Carlik Jones (South Sudan)
- Jose Alvarado (Puerto Rico)
- Bogdan Bogdanovic (Serbia)
- Vasilije Micic (Serbia)
- Nikola Milutinov (Serbia)
