From 12 teams, only eight nations remain.
Defending Olympic champions USA are joined by Canada, reigning FIBA world champion Germany, host France, Serbia, Greece, Australia, and Brazil in the knockout phase of the men’s 5-on-5 basketball phase that is about to start today at 5:00 p.m.
But before the much-awaited playoffs, check out some of the top performing NBA players who made their mark in the group stage for their respective countries.
LeBron James | Team USA
Why not start with the obvious one?
The King is pushing 40 years old and yet he’s the face of this team. Team USA deferred to him– the ultimate sign of respect— and rightfully so.
James set the tone in the pre-Olympic tour, and followed it up with a solid outing so far in the group play, becoming the American’s third leading scorer (14.3 ppg) and rebounder (6.7) and the top playmaker (7.3).
The unquestionable leader of this edition of Team USA, James is, if not the biggest reason, why the stacked Americans are cruising in Lille so far and finished on top of Group C behind a perfect 3-0 record.
Only Canada and Germany possess the same slate as the Americans heading to the playoffs.
[ALSO READ: LeBron James joins elite Team USA company as top-ranked Americans smash South Sudan in Paris 2024]
If that changes, chances are LeBron will have the ball in the moment of truth and will decide who’ll be the hero — by passing to a teammate, or taking it himself.
Team USA vie for a spot in the semifinals against Brazil tomorrow, August 7 at 3:30 a.m. (PH time).
Shai Gilgeous Alexander | Canada
New tournament, but same Shai Gilgeous Alexander.
The undisputed star player of Team Canada is once again showing to the world that he is indeed among the best players in the world after leading the Canadians to a perfect 3-0 start in Paris 2024.
One could argue that SGA and Team Canada are probably the biggest threat to Team USA’ gold medal bid and they’re making a case.
The OKC Thunder superstar is currently averaging 18.5 points, good for no. 7 overall in Paris 2024 alongside 4.5 rebounds, 5 assists, two steals (#6), 2.0 blocks (#2) and a P.E.R of 24.5, also good for no.7 in the whole tournament.
In an interview, SGA spoke about a potential gold medal game showdown against the powerhouse Americans.
"Team USA plays to their strengths and they're obviously very talented and very deep. You almost have to make no mistakes and play a perfect game when you play against them.”
"As far as Canada, we'll be ready for whoever we see."
But before that, SGA and Co. face another top-heavy contender in Victor Wembanyama, Rudy Gobert and the rest of host France in a blockbuster semifinal.
Kevin Durant | Team USA
He is Mr. USA Basketball and didn’t allow a calf strain to threaten that title through one week of 2024. You can even make the case that, on a per-minute basis, KD, who is averaging 16 points on an insane 63% shooting in just 17 minutes, is once again the most productive scorer on Team USA — just as he was in the last two Olympics.
Although he hasn’t started a game, not that coming off the bench has diminished his energy, enthusiasm or production. KD is saying all the right things about that — “whatever the coach wants me to do” blah, blah — but deep inside probably feels he deserves to start.
He might tomorrow against Brazil, and even if he doesn’t, he’s the best sixth man USA Basketball ever had.
Nikola Jokic | Serbia
The Joker is in no time to fool around in Paris and as expected, is carrying the The Eagles with every ounce of energy he has.
So far, the three-time NBA MVP is averaging 17.0 points, 10.0 rebounds and 8.5 assists which is both no.2 in the tournament on an ultra-efficient 59.1 shooting clip.
He came oh-so-close to making Olympic history against Puerto Rico falling just short of a triple double after finishing with an insane 14-point,15-rebound and nine-assist game in Serbia’s 107-66 romp.
Jokic and the rest of the reigning FIBA World Cup silver medalists face a tough Australian squad in the final eight.
Dennis Schroder | Germany
Germany was never taken very seriously in international play, even during the prime years of perhaps their greatest home-grown player in the Dirk Nowitzki years.
That has changed abruptly because of one man in Dennis Schroder.
The team captain and reigning FIBA World Cup MVP is undoubtedly the head of the German snake this Paris 2024. Schroder is currently pacing his squad with averages of 16.5 points, a tournament best 9.0 assists, 2.0 steals (#6) and whenever he’s on the floor, Germany are +20 in his 60 minutes of work.
The fact that he isn't just the best passer of the Olympics Games Paris 2024 so far, but also the toughest and peskiest defender for the reigning world champions is definitely the testament of his character.
As per Brazil's Vitor Benite: "He was pretty tough, he's a really fast guy so as a shooter when you're coming off of screens, you don't know if he's coming with you. He's gonna go around the picks because he has fast legs, so it's tough.
Honorable mentions:
Victor Wembanyama | France
The hometown boy is putting on a show in his home country, making another other-worldy campaign so far in Paris.
His 18.5 points per game, which is currently no. 7 in the tournament just proves the offense is revolving around him and why not?
Wemby also grabbed a tournament second-best 10.0 rebounds 4.0 assists, a couple of league-leading numbers in 3.0 steals and 2.5 blocks while also shooting 50% from the field and the field, 44.4& from deep.
Bogdan Bogdanovic | Serbia
Bogie Buckets is making a splash in Lille and some history as well.
In a must win game against South Sudan, the sharpshooting guard became the Serbian national team’s all-time leading scorer with 1,059 points, passing teammates Milos Teodosic.
In what was his best game of the Paris 2024, the seven-year NBA veteran recorded 30 points, eight assists, four rebounds, two steals, and two blocks in 32 minutes against a feisty African team, including 6-9 from deep.
[ALSO READ: Paris 2024: Bogdan Bogdanovic, Nikola Jokic lift Serbia past South Sudan, pull Greece to quarterfinals]
Bogdanovic has been productive so far at the 2024 Olympics contributing 19.0 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.7 assists, while shooting making an insane 50-40-9- shooting spilts behind a 54% & shooting from the field, 53% clip from deep on six attempts per game, and making 89% of his free throws.
Alongside Jokic, the duo remain deadly for Serbia and are expected to elevate their game if the Serbians want to go all the way and dethrone Team USA.
Josh Giddey | Australia
Yes, yes FIBA Patty Mills should be here. We get it, but Josh Giddey seems to be the revelation the Australian Boomers are hoping for.
Traded to the Chicago Bulls this offseason, Giddey is currently averaging 18.0 points (#11 in Paris 2024), 7.5 rebounds (#9), 7.0 assists (#4), all done as the primary ball handler for the Boomers while also shooting 53.8% from the field and 45.5% clip from three three-point range on nearly six attempts per game.
Giannis Antetokounmpo | Greece
Where will Greece be without their best player in Giannis Antetokounmpo?
The Greak Freak is single-handedly willing the Greeks in his Olympic debut, emerging as the top scorer of the tournament with 30.5 points 8.0 rebounds (#8) while shooting 68% from the field.
In short, whenever Giannis goes, so do Greeks.
RJ Barrett | Canada
Many expected Jamal Murray to be the Robin for SGA’s Batman this Paris 2-24, but RJ Barrett had other plans.
The Toronto Raptor was definitely an X-factor in Canada coming out on top in what was labeled as the “group of death” this Olympic Games Paris 2024.
Barrett is currently second in scoring behind Giannis at 23.5 points besides his 5.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.5 steals.
The lefty also enjoyed splendid shooting so far, shooting 59.3% in the field, 40.0% from deep and 91.7% from the line.
