Olympics’ 50 best men’s basketball players for 2024 Paris Games, ranked

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Let’s rank the best men’s basketball players competing at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

The most talented men’s basketball tournament in the history of the Summer Olympics is going down at the 2024 Paris Games. The best athletes in the sport are on display representing their home countries, and all of them want the glory that comes with leading their team to a gold medal.

International stars are all over the NBA these days. The last six NBA MVP winners have been born outside of the U.S., and the game’s brightest young talent — French big man Victor Wembanyama — was also born and raised abroad. The Americans might have the strongest overall team entering the tournament, but the days of the U.S. cruising to gold without a challenge are long gone. The rest of the world is knocking at the door just waiting for the opportunity to knock USA Basketball off the top of the podium.

With so many great players competing in the Paris Olympics, it’s only right to rank the 50 best heading into the tournament. There are plenty of Americans high on this list, but for the first time in Olympic history, the biggest stars are competing for other countries.

50. Georgios Papagiannis, C, Greece: Papagiannis was an infamous NBA bust after the Kings picked him No. 13 overall in 2016, but the 7’3 center has carved out a nice career for himself in the Euroleague. His consistent inside scoring will take some pressure off Giannis Antetokounmpo for the Greeks.

49. Lorenzo Brown, G, Spain: Brown is an American guard who was granted naturalized citizen status in Spain. After playing just over 100 NBA games, he’s been one of the most productive guards in Euroleague the last few years. The 6’5 ball handler will be the head of the attack for a Spain team looking to maintain its international dominance.

48. JT Thor, F, South Sudan: Thor already has three NBA seasons under his belt despite only being 21 years old. The skinny 6’9 forward prefers to play on the perimeter, and he should actually get a chance to test the limits of his skill set as South Sudan’s top wing scorer.

47. Vasilije Micić, G, Serbia: Micic was one of the most decorated guards in Europe before coming over to the NBA last season at age 29. The crafty floor general was Euroleague MVP in 2021, and a two-time Euroleague Final Four MVP. His job will be getting the ball to Nikola Jokic for Serbia.

46. Bilal Coulibaly, F, France: The No. 7 overall pick for the Wizards in the 2023 draft. Coulibaly is a super athletic 6’8 wing who can be a pest defensively, finish plays above the rim on both ends, and be a demon in transition.

45. Daniel Theis, C, Germany: The long-time NBA veteran is a master at all the little things for a big man, like getting deep seals and creating space for his teammates with screens. He’s going to be a load inside for any team to deal with.

44. Wenyen Gabriel, F, South Sudan: Gabriel is a 6’9 forward with an inside-out scoring package. He’s played 150 career NBA games but is moving to Maccabi Tel Aviv to play in EuroLeague next season.

43. Carlik Jones, G, South Sudan: Jones was the G League MVP in 2022. The tiny point guard is a master shot creator and a dangerous pull-up threat from three-point range.

42. Yuta Watanabe, F, Japan: Watanabe is a 6’10 sharpshooter with deep range. After playing more than 200 NBA games, he’s making the move to the Japanese league after the Olympics.

41. Bruno Caboclo, F, Brazil: Caboclo will always be remembered for the “two years away from being two years away” comment made during his selection in the NBA Draft. Now 28 years old, he’ll be Brazil’s primary option as a 6’9 wing scorer who prefers to do his damage inside.

40. Jock Landale, C, Australia: Landale is a big center who can do the dirty work around the rim on both ends. He’ll be on the receiving end of many of Josh Giddey’s interior passes, and he needs to finish them.

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39. Dyson Daniels, G, Australia: Daniels is a former top-10 NBA draft pick who is getting a new start this year with a trade from the Pelicans to the Hawks. He’s arguably Australia’s best on-ball defender and one of its best athletes, but his lack of shooting limits him in the halfcourt.

38. Josh Green, G, Australia: Green is a super athletic 6’5 wing who can make plays in transition, get after it defensively, and show flashes of an intriguing floor game. The Australians have some serious speed on the wings with Green and Daniels, but they will need those players to hit shots if they have any chance of advancing out of the Group of Death.

37. Willy Hernangomez, C, Spain: The 6’11 center led Spain with 18.2 points and 5.5 rebounds per game in the 2023 FIBA World Cup. His interior scoring will be Spain’s most consistent offensive path to success.

36. Trey Lyles, C/F, Canada: Lyles has remade his career as a small ball big man who can stretch the floor from three. He’s a tad small for a FIBA center at 6’9, 235 pounds, but he’ll need to play a big role for a thin Canada frontcourt.

35. Nic Batum, F, France: Batum is still one of the best connective forwards in the world at age-35. He’ll be a key piece for France spacing the floor and swinging the ball between Victor Wembanyama and Rudy Gobert.

34. Kelly Olynyk, C, Canada: Olynyk is such a smart and versatile veteran. The 33-year-old can stretch the floor or make plays as a passer, but he’ll also have to handle traditional big man duties for a Canadian team a bit light in the front court.

33. Nickeil Alexander-Walker, G, Canada: Alexander-Walker had a breakout season for the Timberwolves this past year as a defensive pest who could also provide some ball handling and shooting. He’s a perfect role player for Canada in this setting.

32. R.J. Barrett, F, Canada: It’s hard to believe Barrett is already 24 years old. The 6’6 wing is at his best as a slasher and showed improved finishing ability after the mid-season trade to Toronto last season. He’s also coming off his best three-point shooting season. Barrett will be an important secondary scorer for Canada when one of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jamal Murray are off the floor.

31. Evan Fournier, G, France: Fournier was one of the best scorers in the tournament at the last Olympics in Tokyo, averaging 18.7. points per game on nearly 38 percent three-point shooting during France’s silver medal run. Now 31 years old, Fournier has fallen out of favor in the NBA but could ignite interest in his career again with another good run in the Olympics.

30. Patty Mills, G, Australia: Mills was electric at the Tokyo Olympics, popping off for 42 points against Luka Doncic and Slovenia to deliver Australia a bronze medal. Now on the brink of his 36th birthday, Mills’ ability to fight back Father Time for more heroic Olympic performance will be key to Australia’s hopes of advancing out of Group Play.

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29. Moritz Wagner, C, Germany: Franz Wagner will be the leading man for Germany at the Olympics, but don’t overlook the contributions of his older brother Mo. The elder Wagner brother loves doing the dirty work on the interior, but also has enough skill create his own shot in a pinch or try a three-pointer. Both Wagner brothers were great at Germany’s gold medal run in the FIBA World Cup, and they’re back for more in Paris.

28. Santi Aldama, F, Spain: Aldama is a 7-foot forward who likes to play out on the perimeter offensively. He hit 35 percent of his threes on five attempts per game last year for the Grizzlies. He’s going to be one of the top offensive options for Spain throughout this tournament.

27. Jose Alvarado, G, Puerto Rico: Alvarado is a defensive pest in the NBA for the Pelicans, and he gets to test out the limits of his offensive game as Puerto Rico’s best player in Paris. He was spectacular in the qualifying tournament, and has a galvanizing quality to his game that could could produce a magical Olympic moment.

26. Rui Hachimura, F, Japan: Hachimura gets to go from a role player with the Lakers to the leading man for Japan. It will be fun to see how the big 6’8, 230-pound forward handles more shot-creation duties than he ever gets in the NBA.

25. Josh Giddey, G, Australia: Giddey is a jumbo playmaker who will have the ball in his hands a lot for the Aussies. The 6’7 point guard has great vision as a passer and can overwhelm smaller guards looking for his own scoring on drives. It will be fascinating to see how Olympic teams defend Giddey given his big weakness as an outside shooter.

24. Andrew Nembhard, G, Canada: Nembhard is coming off an inspired run in the NBA Playoffs for the Indiana Pacers. The 6’4 guard gives Canada another trusty ball handler who can create his own shot and stretch the floor from three-point range.

23. Dennis Schroder, G, Germany: Schroder is the speedy guard at the head of the attack for Germany. He needs to be at his best for Germany to repeat its charmed run from the World Cup. The veteran point guard is known for his straight-line drives to the rim, but his defense at the point of attack is just as important for the Germans.

22. Lu Dort, G, Canada: Dort looks like an NFL linebacker when he walks onto the court, and he’ll leverage his strong 6’4 frame to be a defensive stopper for Canada. Dort’s offense typically comes down to if his moonball three-point shot is falling, and he’s coming off the bench shooting season of his career (39.4 percent from three) with the Thunder.

21. Dillon Brooks, F, Canada: Brooks and Dort will form a terrifying defensive duo on the perimeter for Canada. The key for Brooks is keeping up his defensive intensity while playing within himself offensively. The veteran NBA forward is better suited as a floor spacer than a creator when Canada has the ball.

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20. Bogdan Bogdanovic, G, Serbia: Bogdanovic is one of the best three-point shooters in the NBA. The 6’6 wing’s elite outside shooting offers a perfect complement to Nikola Jokic’s interior scoring and playmaking for Serbia.

19. Derrick White, G, USA: White was a last-second injury replacement for Kawhi Leonard, but it’s easy to see why USA Basketball wanted him on the team. White doesn’t need the ball to make all kinds of winning plays. He’s a great defender against opposing guards, a 40 percent three-point shooter, and someone who can either create or extend an advantage as a ball handler.

18. Tyrese Haliburton, G, USA: Haliburton brings pace and playmaking to Team USA off the bench. The Pacers’ point guard specializes in playing at an ultra-fast tempo, spraying out the ball to his scorers for offense early in the shot clock. If the U.S. gets into an offensive rut, look for Haliburton to get them playing faster when he checks in.

17. Franz Wagner, F, Germany: Wagner looks like an NBA All-Star in the making — and now he has the max contract with the Orlando Magic to prove it. The 6’9 wing is a jumbo shot-creator who can get to the basket, make an open pass to his teammates, and lock down defensively. If his three-point shot is falling — a big if — he has the full two-way arsenal star players are made of.

16. Devin Booker, G, USA: Booker is a technically sound bucket-getter from all three levels. He’d be the best guard in this tournament anywhere outside of Canada, and the fact that Team USA has him in a presumably small role off the bench shows the extent of its firepower.

15. Bam Adebayo, F, USA: Adebayo is a super versatile big man who can defend the perimeter, make plays as a passer, and hammer home dunks inside. He’s been playing next to Anthony Davis in the front court for the Americans off the bench, and is even attempting some three-pointers. His combination of quickness and power is a huge boon for the U.S. depth.

14. Jrue Holiday, G, USA: Holiday is Team USA’s most devastating defensive weapon. After helping the Americans bring home gold in Tokyo, Holiday is back again as a key connective piece between the Americans’ veteran stars. He will take on the toughest defensive assignment on the perimeter in every game, and somehow only keeps getting better as a three-point shooter.

13. Jamal Murray, G, Canada: Murray was hampered by injuries and wasn’t at his best during the NBA Playoffs for the Nuggets, so it remains to be seen how healthy he’ll be in this tournament. When he’s on, Murray is one of the most clutch players in this field with the ability to create his own shot whenever he wants.

12. Anthony Edwards, G, USA: Edwards is the future of Team USA. The 22-year-old is the youngest player on the roster, and coming off an incredible run in the NBA Playoffs with the Timberwolves. Edwards is an elite athlete who can get hot in a hurry as a shot-maker. It’s instant offense when he checks in the game for the U.S.

11. Victor Wembanyama, C/F, France: The 20-year-old Wembanyama feels destined to be the best player in this tournament at the next Olympics in 2028 in Los Angeles. He’s also proving to be one of the best basketball players alive right now. The 7’5 freak can play all over the floor, whether he’s dominating at the rim with his 8-foot wingspan or making plays as a shooter and passer on the perimeter. The rise of Wembanyama is just starting, and the Olympics will be a key mile marker in his journey.

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10. Jayson Tatum, F, USA: Tatum just proved he can be the best player on a championship team for the Celtics. Now he has to fit in instead of stand out for Team USA, which is a scary proposition for opponents. The 6’9 wing scorer can fill it up all over the floor, giving the Americans another super-sized shooter and ball handler. Don’t discount Tatum’s ability to do the dirty work either as a rebounder and defender. He’s a tremendously well-rounded player, especially in this context.

9. Anthony Davis, C/F, USA: Davis is one of the most disruptive defenders in the world, and his combination of length and mobility is an ideal fit for FIBA play. AD doesn’t demand touches on offense in this setting, but he can still make a big impact as an interior finisher and putback threat on the glass. His paint protection will be the backbone of the U.S. defense.

8. Rudy Gobert, C, France: Gobert still might be the best defensive player in the world at age-32. He’s devastating as a rim protector with a 7’7 wingspan, and FIBA rules make him even more effective with an ability to play the ball off the rim. France will need Gobert to be more of a scorer than he is in the NBA which can be a dicey proposition against bigger teams, but there are only so many matchups that can actually limit his size and athleticism. He needs to play like a top-10 player in this tournament for France to medal.

7. Joel Embiid, C, USA: Getting Embiid’s commitment was the key piece to the roster-building strategy for the United States, but his transition to FIBA play has looked rough at times. Embiid is obviously one of the best players in the world as a ridiculously skilled frontcourt scorer, but he’s not going to get the same volume of touches or the same whistle from the refs he’s used to in the NBA. Embiid needs to adjust to tap into his rim protection and play-finishing skills, but that shouldn’t be a major problem for someone this talented.

6. Kevin Durant, F, USA: Durant is going for his fourth gold medal after dragging the Americans across the finish line in Tokyo all by himself. He’s been sidelined with an injury during the exhibition season, and while Team USA can win gold without him, they are a lot scarier with KD on the floor. His knockdown shooting and defensive length are a perfect fit in this U.S. lineup. The world deserves to watch Durant, LeBron James, and Stephen Curry together as teammates in games with real stakes.

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5. LeBron James, F, USA: James is back on Team USA after skipping the 2016 and 2021 Olympics, and he’s still one of the best players in the world even at age-39. He remains a freight train attacking downhill and a genius on both ends of the floor. Quietly, James has become a much better three-point shooter in recent years, too. He’s the emotional leader of the Americans and one of the best basketball players ever.

4. Stephen Curry, G, USA: Curry’s Olympic debut will be must-see TV in Paris. The 36-year-old guard isn’t just the best shooter of all time, he’s one of the most creative and effective offensive players in the history of the game. Watching Curry is pure basketball joy, and it will be a thrill to see his gifts on the Olympic stage.

3. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, G, Canada: Gilgeous-Alexander is a master manipulator with the ball in his hands. The 6’6 guard is an impossibly crafty ball handler and finisher who can splash mid-range shots or complete ridiculous finishes around the basket. He’s going to be an NBA MVP candidate for the foreseeable future, and his presence is the biggest reason why Canada is the second most talented team coming into this tournament.

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2. Giannis Antetokounmpo, F, Greece: Giannis is a one-man army for Greece, and he feels like the best two-way player in the world right now. The 6’11 big man has an impossible combination of ground coverage and rim protection defensively, he’s completely unstoppable in transition, and he attacks the paint with so much force offensively in the halfcourt. He’s the tournament’s premier physical force.

1. Nikola Jokic, C, Serbia: Jokic is a basketball mastermind in every way. He is at once the passer in the world, best post-scorer in the world, and arguably the best rebounder in the world. He has a special ability to produce a good shot for his team every time he touches the ball. Serbia won a silver medal in the 2023 FIBA World Cup without Jokic on the floor. Adding the best player in the world makes them the tournament’s biggest sleeper for another medal run.