There will be no short of NBA talent in the Olympic Games Paris 2024.
While there’s the heavily-favored and four-time gold medalist Team USA, some of the Association’s best and brightest international stars will try to lead their respective countries to Olympic glory.
The Olympic Games Paris 2024 feature a record 139 current and former NBA and WNBA players. That's 81 current athletes and 51 former players in the 5-on-5 competition for both men and women. The 3-on-3 will include one former NBA player, three current WNBA players, and three former WNBA players. Olympic rosters feature a record 51 current NBA players and a record 31 current WNBA players. Outside of the U.S., Canada has the most current NBA players with 10, followed by Australia (nine) and France (five). Ten of the 12 teams in the men’s 5-on-5 competition have at least five players with NBA experience. Among all teams outside of the US in the women’s 5-on-5 competition, Australia has the most current WNBA players with six, followed by Canada (four) and Germany (three). Eight of the 12 teams in the women’s 5-on-5 competition have at least three players with WNBA experience. Twenty-six NBA teams and 11 WNBA teams are represented in the 5-on-5 and 3-on-3 competitions. The Minnesota Timberwolves feature an NBA-high four current players, followed by the Boston Celtics, Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Lakers (three each). The Las Vegas Aces feature a WNBA-high six players, followed by the New York Liberty, Phoenix Mercury and Los Angeles Sparks (four each).
Here's a look at some of the current and former NBA players playing in the Olympic Games Paris 2024:
Australia
The no. 5 team in the world rankings, the Boomers of Australia are in Group A alongside Canada, Greece,and Spain a.k.a. the “Group of Death” and will parade eight active NBA players and one former player:
- Dyson Daniels (New Pelicans)
- Dante Exum (Dallas Mavericks)
- Josh Giddey (Chicago Bulls)
- Josh Green (Charlotte Hornets)
- Joe Ingles (Minnesota Timberwolves)
- Jock Landale (Houston Rockets)
- Jack McVeigh (Houston Rockets)
- Patty Mills (Miami Heat)
- Duop Reath (Portland Trail Blazers)
- Matthew Dellavedova (former NBA player)
- Will Magnay (former NBA player)
Brazil
Brazil is one of the last teams to catch Paris 2024 after coming out on top of the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Riga, Latvia.
Currently the world no. 12 squad, Brazil is in Group C alongside France, Germany, and Japan, is yet to announce their final lineup for the Olympics but has an active NBA player in their roster in the winning team in Riga:
- Gui Santos (Golden State Warriors
- Bruno Caboclo (former NBA player)
- Marcelinho Huertas (former NBA player)
- Didi Louzada (former NBA player)
- Raul Neto (former NBA player)
They are #Paris2024 bound for Brazil 🇧🇷#Basketball pic.twitter.com/OtrkmbBlrg
— FIBA (@FIBA) July 23, 2024
Canada
After a historic bronze medal finish in the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup, the seventh-ranked Canadians are one of the teams in Paris who are expected to make a deep run in the tournament. Outside of the U.S., Canada has the most current NBA players with 10,
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City Thunder)
- Jamal Murray (Denver Nuggets)
- Nickeil Alexander-Walker (Minnesota Timberwolves)
- RJ Barrett (Toronto Raptors)
- Dillon Brooks (Houston Rockets)
- Luguentz Dort (OKC Thunder)
- Trey Lyles (Sacramento Kings)
- Andrew Nembhard (Indiana Pacers)
- Kelly Olynyk (Toronto Raptors)
- Dwight Powell (Dallas Mavericks)
- Khem Birch (former NBA player)
The amount of talent in this roster 🔥
— FIBA (@FIBA) July 10, 2024
Canada 🇨🇦 are coming for the podium? 🏅#Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/7vZSbI48HD
France
Like Canada, the world no. 9 team France is among the top medal hopefuls in Paris 2024, parading a roster with a handful of current and former NBA talents like:
- Victor Wembanyama (San Antonio Spurs)
- Rudy Gobert (Minnesota Timberwolves)
- Nicolas Batum (Los Angeles Clippers)
- Bilal Coulibaly (Washington Wizards)
- Nando De Colo (former NBA player)
- Evan Fournier (most recently with Pistons)
- Frank Ntilikina (former NBA player)
- Guerschon Yabusele (former NBA player)
- Nando De Colo (former NBA player)
- Frank Ntilikina (former NBA player)
Les Bleus are ready for #Paris2024 🇫🇷
— FIBA (@FIBA) July 8, 2024
Is this team finishing at podium? 👀 pic.twitter.com/Q2eBIJoHsF
Germany
Die Mannschaft hopes to follow up their successful 2023 FIBA World Cup campaign, shifting to a first-ever podium finish in the Olympics. Germany also boast a loaded pool include nothing short of current and ex-NBA talents:
- Dennis Schroder (Brooklyn Nets)
- Daniel Theis (New Orleans Pelicans)
- Franz Wagner (Orlando Magic)
- Mo Wagner (Orlando Magic)
- Isaac Bonga (former NBA player)
Reigning World Champs coming for that medal 🔥#Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/0dIzHIEmdf
— FIBA (@FIBA) July 12, 2024
Greece
The Greeks are also one of the last teams to punch a ticket for Paris 2024, winning the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Piraeus that included victories over Luka Doncic and Slovenia in the semifinals and Croatia in the final round. An NBA champion and multi-time MVP is present in that squad, who are yet to their final roster for Paris, with some former NBA players in the mix.
- Giannis Anetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks)
- Kostas Antetokounmpo (former NBA player)
- Nick Calathes (former NBA player)
- Georgios Papagiannis (former NBA player)
- Kostas Papanikolaou (former NBA player)
Japan
Akatsuki Japan qualified for Paris 2024 as the best Asian performing team in the 2023 FIBA World Cup. The Japanese are now in back-to-back Olympics after finishing 11th in Tokyo 2020. A couple of NBA talents is present in Japan’s final roster for the Olympic Games Paris 2024:
- Rui Hachimura (Los Angeles Lakers)
- Yuta Watanabe (former NBA player)
#AkatsukiJapan 🇯🇵 bringing starpower to #Paris2024 ? pic.twitter.com/HkQKpYe5VD
— FIBA (@FIBA) July 9, 2024
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico is among the last three teams to qualify for Paris 2024, needing to undergo the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament at home in San Juan after beating Lithuania in the final round. Los Magnificos is making their Olympic return for the first time since Athens 2004.
- Jose Alvarado (New Orleans Pelicans)
- Gian Clavell (former NBA player)
- Aleem Ford (former NBA player)
- Davon Reed (former NBA player)
- Tremont Waters (former NBA player)
For the first time since 2004, Puerto Rico men's basketball 🇵🇷 is headed to the Olympics! 🙌 #FIBAOQT pic.twitter.com/1IR6f5r3Qf
— FIBA (@FIBA) July 8, 2024
Serbia
The 2023 FIBA World Cup silver medalists are among the top contenders in Paris 2024, and are Group C alongside Team USA, Puerto Rico, and South Sudan. A stacked Paris 2024 roster include a familiar name in the Association and world basketball with other ex-NBA players is present:
- Nikola Jokic (Denver Nuggets)
- Bogdan Bogdanovic (Atlanta Hawks)
- Nikola Jovic (Miami Heat)
- Vasilije Micic (Charlotte Hornets)
- Marko Guduric (former NBA player)
- Filip Petrušev (former NBA player)
Serbia 🇷🇸 geared up for #Paris2024 🤩#Basketball pic.twitter.com/hpQCjaiMXU
— FIBA (@FIBA) July 23, 2024
South Sudan
South Sudan qualified for Paris 2024 by virtue of becoming the best African performing team in the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup last year and are now aim to crash the party in Paris.
- JT Thor (Charlotte Hornets)
- Wenyen Gabriel (former NBA player)
- Carlik Jones (former NBA player)
🇸🇸 @Olympics 1??2?? pic.twitter.com/IC7XnIllzK
— South Sudan Basketball (@SSBFed) July 24, 2024
Spain
Better late than never for La Roja, who also qualified for Paris 2024 after a successful FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament at home in Valencia. The world no. 2 Spain is set to compete for their 7th Olympics and their final roster also boast a collection of current and ex-NBA players:
- Santi Aldama (Memphis Grizzlies)
- Usman Garuba (most recently with Warriors)
- Álex Abrines (former NBA player)
- Rudy Fernández (former NBA player)
- Lorenzo Brown (former NBA player)
- Juancho Hernangómez (former NBA player)
- Willy Hernangómez (former NBA player)
The Ultimate 12 of La Roja 🇪🇸🔥
— FIBA (@FIBA) July 9, 2024
Can they reach another podium in #Paris2024? 👀 pic.twitter.com/DfL9gwXhKu
USA
We have to save the best for last, don't we?
The defending four-time Olympic gold medalists and the top-ranked USA is coming to Paris with one mission only: defend the crown. A stacked line-up–from top to bottom– is ready to contend in Olympic Games Paris 2024 with massive expectations and a legitimate star-power. Can they clinch a fifth straight gold?
- LeBron James (LA Lakers)
- Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors)
- Kevin Durant (Phoenix Suns)
- Derrick White (Boston Celtics)
- Jayson Tatum (Boston Celtics)
- Anthony Davis (LA Lakers)
- Anthony Edwards (Minnesota Timberwolves)
- Joel Embiid (Philadelphia 76ers)
- Bam Adebayo (Miami Heat)
- Devin Booker (Phoenix Suns)
- Tyrese Haliburton (Indiana Pacers)
- Jrue Holiday (Boston Celtics)
