Men’s Olympics Basketball Futures: LeBron James, Team USA heavy favorite to win gold

The 2024 Summer Olympics are right around the corner and one of the more exciting events will be men’s basketball. By no surprise to anyone, Team USA is the squad with a target on their backs. The program managed to lure in the best NBA talent around, therefore the Americans are a clear favorite to take home gold in France. Canada, France, and Serbia are also teams to watch, with all capable of a possible upset of the States. Below, we’ll preview the contenders and discuss their groups.

Team USA

The United States made sure to bring in the best of the best for these Olympics. LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Jayson Tatum, and Joel Embiid headline the roster, but that’s not it. You also have guys like Bam Adebayo, Jrue Holiday, Anthony Davis, Devin Booker, Tyrese Haliburton, and even Anthony Edwards. Team USA is 3-0 in exhibition play so far without KD playing a single minute. He’s been sidelined with a calf strain but did return to practice on Friday. The States are in a group with Serbia, Puerto Rico, and South Sudan. They should easily finish at the top. The Serbs could pose a threat but to be honest, if the States play up to par, no one should beat them in Paris. They play South Sudan and Germany before heading to Paris for the opener on July 28th. The US has a whopping -668 odds to win the Olympics at Sports Interaction.

Team Canada

The Canadians made their presence felt at the FIBA World Cup last year when they beat the US and earned a silver medal. The program has come a long way in recent years and has a roster full of NBA talent. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander headlines the pack but Canada also has the likes of Jamal Murray, RJ Barrett, Dillon Brooks, Lu Dort, and Dwight Powell. SGA is the main man and will be pivotal in how far the Canadians go after his MVP campaign with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Canada is in Group A, the toughest of the lot They will play Australia, Greece, and Spain. That is not easy but this is a team who proved their worth in the World Cup. There’s a lot of experience. Canada just comfortably took down France in exhibition play, too. They have the second-best odds to win the Olympics at most online betting sites.

France

The standout name on Team France is of course San Antonio Spurs phenom Victor Wembanyama, one of the most exciting players in the world. There is several other talented NBA players though such as Rudy Gobert, Evan Fournier, Nicolas Batum, and Bilal Coulibaly. Being the host nation will bring some pressure but I don’t think anyone is expecting the French to go out and win a gold medal. They should finish in first or second in their group however alongside Germany, Brazil, and Japan. 

Serbia

Nikola Jokic is the best player in the world and a two-time NBA MVP, so you have to watch out for Serbia. No one can really stop his ridiculous skillset and that’s why the Serbs will be a contender in the Olympics. Aside from the big man, Bogdan Bogdanovic and Vasilije Micic form the Serbs’ NBA backcourt. Most of this roster plays in the Euroleague but there is no shortage of talent. Their style of play could give the US some issues, especially if Jokic is balling out and the two guards catch fire from deep.