This year’s Olympic basketball tournament is a showcase of elite talent, underscored by the presence of six NBA MVPs who collectively hold an impressive 13 trophies. Leading the roster of decorated players is LeBron James, with an impressive four MVP awards to his name. James is joined by Nikola Jokic, who boasts three MVP awards, and Stephen Curry and Giannis Antetokounmpo, each with two. Kevin Durant and Joel Embiid round out the group with one MVP trophy apiece.
Team USA, always a powerhouse in international basketball, has been making headlines with their offensive prowess, scoring over 100 points in each of their three games. Remarkably, much of their firepower comes off the bench, with a second unit that includes Derrick White, Bam Adebayo, Anthony Edwards, Anthony Davis, and Kevin Durant. Despite their offensive success, Team USA is fourth in rebounds per game, averaging 41, along with 9.3 offensive rebounds per contest.
Germany has emerged as a formidable defensive team, not conceding more than 77 points in any game so far. Dennis Schroder has been instrumental for Germany, leading all players with nine assists per game while also averaging 19.7 points. Franz Wagner, another standout, averages 21.7 points per game, placing him among the top scorers in the tournament. However, Wagner's 3-point shooting has struggled, standing at just 21%.
Team Canada, led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and RJ Barrett, who average 19 and 21 points per game respectively, is battling its own set of challenges. Canada is at the bottom in both rebounding and assists among the remaining teams. "Team Canada is led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and RJ Barrett, who lead the team with 19 and 21 points per game, respectively," according to NBAE's Jesse D. Garrabrant.
France's roster features the reigning NBA Rookie of the Year, Victor Wembanyama, who has been a star for his team, leading France in points (17), assists (3), and rebounds (10.7) per game. Additionally, Rudy Gobert has bolstered the defense with an average of 2.7 blocks per game. "Victor Wembanyama is having a great Olympics and leads France in points (17), assists (3), and rebounds (10.7) per game," remarks Gregory Shamus from Getty Images.
Serbia has impressed with their ball movement, averaging 25.7 assists per game, second only to Team USA. Bogdan Bogdanovic has been a consistent scorer, averaging 19 points on 54% shooting. However, Serbia has shown vulnerability in defending the perimeter, having given up a total of 31 3-pointers in two games against Team USA. Moreover, their three-point shooting in Paris has been lackluster, struggling with sub-33% efficiency.
Australia, second-best in rebounding at 41.3 rebounds per game, faces its own set of challenges, particularly with free throw shooting, standing at just 63.5%. Josh Giddey, while contributing significantly, has also struggled with ball security, turning over the ball 4.3 times per game.
Brazil leads the tournament in 3-point shooting at an impressive 45%, yet paradoxically tops the turnover charts, averaging 17.3 per game. Their offensive output, at 80.3 points per game, is the second-lowest among the remaining teams, highlighting a critical area for improvement.
Giannis Antetokounmpo has been a tour de force, averaging 27 points on 69% shooting and contributing 7.7 rebounds per game. Nick Calathes has also been a key player for Greece, averaging 7.3 assists per game. Despite these individual performances, Greece has struggled with their shooting efficiency, both from the 3-point line (30%) and free throw line (69%). Greece also averages the fewest points per game at 77.7 and commits the most fouls, showcasing areas in need of immediate refinement.
This Olympic basketball tournament has been a thrilling spectacle with standout performances and compelling storylines emerging from every corner of the globe. As teams advance and the stakes rise higher, the extraordinary talent and resilience on display promise to deliver unforgettable moments and potentially historic outcomes.