The Paris 2024 Olympics promises to be one of the most exciting basketball tournaments in history, featuring some of the greatest talents ever. Let’s review the 12 participating teams and assess their chances of winning medals, as well as the key factors that could influence their journey through the tournament.

The 12 teams are divided into three groups, each with four teams. The top two teams from each group will advance to the knockout stages, along with the two best third-placed teams. The knockout stages will include quarter-finals, semi-finals, and the final, all of which are elimination games, creating a tense and thrilling atmosphere where every mistake can be costly.

Group A is known as the “Group of Death” because there is no clear favorite or weak team. The teams in this group are Australia, Greece, Canada, and Spain.

Australia is a strong force in Olympic basketball. Their biggest stars are veterans like Patty Mills and Joe Ingles, who may have one last chance to win a medal. They also have six other NBA players, making them a talented team with the third-highest number of NBA players, after Canada and the USA. Australia won bronze at the last Olympics, so their goal is to reach the podium again.

Greece returns to the Olympics for the first time since 2008. Their biggest star, Giannis Antetokounmpo, missed the FIBA World Cup 2023 but is back now. New coach, Dimitris Itoudis, has found ways to maximize Giannis’s impact. Although Greece lacks other NBA players, their roster is impressive, featuring nine players who have competed in EuroLeague finals, including four from the championship team. Greece has faced no major issues in qualifying, so we can expect their confidence to help them navigate the tough Group A.

Canada brings one of their most talented teams to date, led by NBA MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and NBA champion Jamal Murray. With 10 players currently in the NBA, Canada has shown impressive team chemistry in recent tournaments, even defeating the USA in the third-place game at the World Cup. This year, they are not only a top contender in Group A but also a team that could challenge the USA for gold.

Spain is a regular contender in international basketball. They have arrived in Paris after a tense qualification process. Spain is in a transitional phase with veterans like Rudy Fernandez and Sergio Llull potentially making their final Olympic appearance. Notably, Spain’s frontcourt includes Santi Aldama, Usman Garuba, and the Hernangomez brothers. Lorenzo Brown, who led them to a EuroBasket gold in 2022, is a key player. Despite having fewer NBA players, Spain’s talent is hard to gauge, but their EuroLeague experience makes them a tough opponent for teams like Canada and Australia in Group A.

Group B features the host nation France, current world champions Germany, and two emerging basketball nations, Japan and Brazil.

As the host nation, France faces significant pressure to perform well. They have a strong lineup including Victor Wembanyama and Rodrigue Beaubois, alongside several EuroLeague veterans who bring a wealth of experience. However, their offense has been criticized for lack of creativity, and coach Vincent Collet has faced criticism for early exits in recent tournaments. France’s recent pre-Olympic friendlies show they need to improve, but their roster is among the most talented.

Germany, on the other hand, does not face as much pressure. Despite being the reigning world champions, they have maintained their championship core. The team is led by MVP of the 2023 World Cup, Dennis Schröder, supported by the Wagner brothers and Dani Bluthenthal. Germany finished third in EuroBasket 2022 and won the World Cup last year, so they are expected to continue their strong performance. Group B is packed with superstars, but Germany could lead the group and potentially make a deep run in the tournament.

Japan, though not a basketball powerhouse, has been steadily improving. Last year, they made a significant impact at the FIBA World Cup and will have Rui Hachimura back to make a strong impression. The team will rely on stars like Riku Togashi and Yuki Kawamura. Japan hopes to advance further in the group stages, but they may need a bit of magic to achieve that.

Brazil might be the unluckiest team in the tournament due to injuries to key players Raul Neto and Zago dos Santos during qualifiers. Marcelinho Huertas, at 41, remains a key figure for Brazil. Despite a solid FIBA World Cup 2023, Brazil could be a major underdog. Reaching the quarter-finals would be a significant achievement for them.

Group C will draw significant attention with the inclusion of the USA team full of superstars, MVP candidates like Nikola Jokic, and the fairytale story of South Sudan and Puerto Rico.

The USA team has suffered recent setbacks but is now bringing together all their top stars to prove they are the best in basketball. With NBA superstars like LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Anthony Edwards, and Jayson Tatum, they are the top contenders for gold. However, recent exhibition games have shown they are not invincible, having struggled against South Sudan.

South Sudan, the youngest nation in the tournament, is making its Olympic debut. Despite lacking big-name stars, they have a passionate and energetic team led by Caron J. Thor, Marian Saok, and Wen Gabriel. Coach Royal Ivey has significantly contributed to their rapid rise. Even participating is a victory for South Sudan, but advancing further in the group will be challenging.

Serbia, who won silver at the FIBA World Cup 2023, is eager to add more titles, especially in this Olympic edition. They will benefit from the presence of superstar Nikola Jokic and leader Bogdan Bogdanovic, along with other NBA players like Micic and Nikola Ristic. Serbia has many EuroLeague talents and could make a significant impact if the draw is favorable. Their recent friendlies, despite a heavy loss to the USA, included impressive wins, particularly against Greece.

Puerto Rico is another inspiring story of a country passionate about basketball. Their roster blends experienced veterans and young talents, with key player Jose Alvarado. The team’s energy and potential to score big from players like Alvarado, Water, and Howard make them a team to watch. However, their group stage is highly competitive, but they have the potential to cause surprises.

With strong investments and talent, Team USA is predicted to win the gold medal. Germany, with stability and high form, is expected to secure silver. Canada, with their talented roster, might win bronze after overcoming Serbia. These are the predictions from Basketball TV for the Olympic basketball tournament. Whether these predictions hold true or not will be determined by the exciting and intense games in Paris.