Basketball

It will be a long, grueling summer for the NBA basketball players who will play in the 2024 Summer Olympics. The risk of getting injured is high, as they hardly have time to recuperate from the (long) NBA season. And one big (NBA) star might miss the last train to Paris. Luka Doncic led the Dallas Mavericks to the NBA Finals, bowing to the Boston Celtics at the final (series) score of 4-1. And he's uncertain of representing Slovenia in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Piraeus, Greece. Fellow Slovenian Vlatko Cancar, who plays for Denver Nuggets, will support Donic (if he decides to sit out this summer).

"I don't think anyone can blame him especially after such a busy season," said Cancar. "I mean, I didn't play anything, and I came in and got injured. You never know what can happen. If Luka needs a rest, he should take it," he added.

Greece, led by Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo, is standing in Slovenia's way. Croatia, Dominican Republic, Egypt, and New Zealand are the other four teams that will vie for the golden ticket to Paris. Fans will see Antetokounmpo OR Doncic in Paris.

"I have never played in the Olympic Games and I really want us to get there," said Antetokounmpo. "We have the Olympic Qualifying Tournament. The only incentive is qualifying, not Team USA or anything else," he pointed out.

All of these shouldn't dampen the fans' enthusiasm, as the upcoming Summer Games will be stacked with NBA stars who will represent their respective countries. Think of a Canada-USA rivalry. Think of redemption for Les Bleus. Think of the Boomers making another successful basketball players Olympics run. The NBA moneyline betting may be over, but the basketball season isn’t.

Let's meet the NBA star who will have a golden summer in the City of Lights:

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Canada)

The rivalry between Canada and the US isn't the kind of rivalry basketball fans would expect (if you compare the showdown between Canada and the US in ice hockey). Coming to the 2024 Olympics, Canada men's basketball national team last qualified for the 2000 Summer Olympics (in Sydney). The Canadian team was one of the favorites (to win an Olympic medal), finishing first in their own group. But the Road Warriors, as they were fondly called by fans, fell to the French men's basketball national team in the quarterfinals. It's no different in Paris, as Canada likes their chances in the 2024 Summer Olympics after their historic performance in the 2023 FIBA World Cup.

Some would dismiss Canada's OT win over the US (for third place), but they should watch a replay. Canada was ready to play the NBA-style game that suited both the Americans and Canadians. (Both teams are stacked with NBA players.) And Canada defeated the US at their own game. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who plays for Oklahoma City Thunders, and Dillon Brooks, who (currently) plays for the Houston Rockets, have an unreal first half (against the Americans). Gilgeous-Alexander, who had a sensational (NBA) rookie season, relished this momentous win.

"Just to be a part of that is a blessing and an honor. So many people along the way have put in so much work for this program and haven't gotten the opportunity to do so. We want to thank them and also represent them," the Oklahoma City Thunders star said.

Stephen Curry, Jayson Tatum, and LeBron James will lead Team USA, which should make them the favorites on paper. But the outcome is different. Team Canada grew up playing together. They have superior execution and shot making. If Shai Gilgeous-Alexander would show the same level of play that he did in the 2023 FIBA World Cup, then their American rivals would be in trouble.

Bogdan Bogdanovic (Serbia)

The Serbia-USA game will be the highlight of the first day of men's basketball in Paris. And Bogdan Bogdanovic is looking forward to this matchup between the two basketball powerhouses.

"The Olympics is a special event. A special thing. I don't think we'll ever see those types of players together representing the USA and competing. So it will be really fun to go out there and compete against them," the Atlanta Hawks guard said.

Bogdanovic is the leading scorer of Serbia in international competitions, the 2023 FIBA World Cup included. Serbia may have lost to Germany in clutch time, but Bogdanovic's heroics would be expected in Paris. And Nikola Jokic's inclusion should make this game more exciting than it looks.

Kevin Durant (USA)

Kevin Durant became the USA men's leading point scorer in Olympic history after the USA defeated the Czech Republic in the Tokyo Olympics. He surpassed Carmelo Anthony's (previous) record, which didn't surprise anyone. (If not for Kevin Durant's heroics, the USA might've lost to France in the gold-medal game.) The Brooklyn Nets star was the leading scorer for Team USA at the Rio Olympics and the London Olympics, so expect him to be the go-to guy in Paris.

Patty Mills (Australia)

The Australia men's national basketball team's resilience paid off in the Tokyo Olympics, securing their first Olympic medal. It was Australia's first medal in an international competition. They had high expectations in the 2023 FIBA World Cup, but the Boomers failed to advance to the quarterfinals. It made many Boomers fans wondering if Mills, who signed with Miami Heat last March, and Joe Ingles, another old guard in the Australia men's basketball squad, have what it would take through a long tournament and then deliver in the medal rounds. The window to another medal gets tighter after hoop fans have witnessed the new talents that competed in Okinawa (and Manila). The Boomers can rely on a never-say-die attitude that Mills is renowned for.

Dennis Schroder (Germany)

Dennis Schroder is Germany men's basketball national team's top scorer these past years. The point guard of the Brooklyn Nets is the team captain of Die Mannschaft, who has carried the team on many occasions. (Germany was almost eliminated in the 2023 FIBA World Cup, trailing Latvia during the first half. Schroder admitted that he played below his high standard.) The current roster of the German team is a mixture of promising talents who are playing in the NBA and top players in the European league. Schroder could rely on them.

Victor Wembayana (France)

France men's national basketball team has an intriguing line-up; Victor Wembayana, who had a fantastic rookie season at the NBA, would join the men's senior team for the first time. Fans are looking forward to Wemby, as he was called, and Rudy Gobert, a veteran of international competitions, joining forces in the starting five. Will this tandem turn Les Bleus into a force to reckon? The answer is yes. The French Federation of Basketball may still rue the fact that Joel Embiid, the center of Philadelphia 76ers. would play for the USA (instead of France), but Les Bleus are determined to put the 2023 FIBA World Cup behind them. Wemby can lead France to a back-to-back Olympic final.

As the NBA season comes to a close, the excitement doesn't end! The 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris promise to be a thrilling spectacle, with NBA stars like Luka Doncic and Giannis Antetokounmpo potentially leading their countries to glory. The competition will be fierce, and the stakes are high.

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