Basketball was recognized as an official Olympic discipline at the 1936 Berlin Games, although it was first introduced as a demonstration sport at the 1904 St. Louis Games. As the Paris 2024 Olympic Games approach, here is what you need to know about the men’s basketball tournament.
In total, 12 countries have qualified for the men’s basketball tournament in Paris 2024. The tournament will divide these 12 teams into three groups consisting of four teams each. The top two teams from each group, along with the two highest-ranked third-place teams, will advance to the next round. Following this stage, matchups for the quarterfinals will be drawn. The winners of the quarterfinal matches will proceed to the semifinals, where the victors will compete for the gold medal, while the losers will face off for the bronze medal.
The United States is heavily favored to win the gold medal, thanks to their dominant status in Olympic men’s basketball, having won a record 16 gold medals out of 20 possible. Team USA is expected to encounter challenges from their neighboring country, Canada, which boasts a star-studded NBA duo in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jamal Murray.
Germany, which won the FIBA Basketball World Cup in 2023, and host nation France, featuring the remarkable Victor Wembanyama, are also strong contenders. France’s national team, which won a silver medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, had a disappointing performance at the 2023 World Cup but can anticipate support from an enthusiastic home crowd during the Olympics.
The upcoming Olympic tournament in Paris will showcase an impressive array of global basketball talent, from the legendary LeBron James to rising star Wembanyama. James, 39, returns to the Olympics for the first time since the London 2012 Games, while his teammate Stephen Curry, the NBA’s all-time leader in three-pointers, will make his Olympic debut at the age of 36.
Wembanyama, who is 20 years old and stands at an impressive 2.24 meters (approximately 7 feet 4 inches), is expected to have a notable championship on home soil. Additionally, former MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo will be in the spotlight, having helped Greece qualify for the Olympics for the first time since 2008.
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