The US Men’s basketball team is gearing up for the 2024 Paris Olympics. They are trying to win their fifth gold medal in a row. The roster is headlined by LeBron James, Steph Curry, Kevin Durant, and Joel Embiid. Even though the US is the favorite to win gold, some teams might still give them some trouble. To go along with that, the gap between them and other countries isn’t as big as it used to be. The groupings were released this past weekend, and in Group A you have Spain, Australia, Canada, and Greece. Group B features Germany, France, Brazil, and Japan. Finally, Group C contains the U.S., Serbia, Puerto Rico, and South Sudan. With being said who are some of the best teams outside of the United States?
Before we list the teams that are the biggest threat to the U.S. during the Paris Olympics. There are two dark horse teams that might make things challenging for the US. Those teams are Serbia and Greece. Serbia is led by three-time MVP Nikola Jokic. Whereas Greece is led by Giannis Antetokounmpo. Jokic makes everyone around him better with his playmaking ability and Giannis is a player that could go off for 40+ points. However, those teams don’t have too much else to offer outside those two players but the US still shouldn’t underestimate them.
2024 Paris Olympics: Which Teams Are The Biggest Threat to the U.S.?
3. Australia/Germany
Australia and Germany are put together because both teams are filled with good NBA role players. Role players who play well together could give the US some problems. First, we have Australia which is led by Patty Mills, Joe Ingles, and Josh Giddey. Australia doesn’t have that one NBA superstar on their team however, they have a bunch of quality NBA players. This team has all the makings they need to give the U.S. some problems. Besides their playmaking ability, they have guys in Dante Exam, and Dyson Daniels who can play defense. Furthermore, if Australia wants any chance of beating the U.S. they will have to try and keep it low scoring. Without a true go-to scorer, if they get into a shootout with the US, they don’t have the firepower to match that.
Next, is Germany who won the FIBA Basketball World Cup in 2023. They are bringing back all of the same guys from that 2023 team. Germany is headlined by Dennis Schroder, Franz Wagner, Mo Wagner, and Daniel Theis. However, just like Australia they don’t have that one true star player and will need to keep it low-scoring if they want a shot at beating the U.S. Lastly, they do have a roster that can give the U.S. problems as they were the team to knock out the U.S in the FIBA World Cup. Both of these teams could challenge the U.S. in the Paris Olympics.
2. Canada
Unlike Australia and Germany, Canada is a serious threat to the U.S. Canada has the second most NBA players next to the U.S. The team is led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jamal Murray, Dillon Brooks, and RJ Barrett. They are going to be able to throw a nice blend of scoring and defense at the U.S. Shai and Murray are going to be a tough one-two punch for the U.S. to slow down. To go along with that, guys like Brooks, Lu Dort, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker will make life tough on the offensive end.
The only thing they are lacking is frontcourt depth. Zach Edey dropping out of the Olympics is going to hurt them and why they aren’t number one. They will have a hard time trying to stop the interior presence of the U.S. with guys like Anthony Davis, and Embiid. Regardless, of that weakness Canada is a serious threat to the U.S. at the Paris Olympics.
1. France
Just like Canada, France is another serious threat to the U.S. France is led by Victor Wembanyama, Rudy Gobert, Nicolas Batum, and Evan Fournier. Even though they don’t have the same amount of NBA players that Canada possesses. They are a bigger threat to the U.S. than Canada because of their elite size and defense. Additionally, there is no defensive three seconds for International basketball and no goaltending. France is going to have Gobert and Wembanyama sit in the paint and force the U.S. to beat them by shooting outside shots.
With this advantage, if the U.S. has a cold shooting night from three, and guys like Batum and Fournier shoot the ball well from deep. France has a really good shot at beating the U.S. Of all 11 teams, outside of the U.S., that are going to the Paris Olympics. France and Canada are the two biggest threats to the U.S.
The Last Word
Even though there are teams that can give the U.S. some problems like Serbia, Greece, Australia, and Germany. As well as teams in Canada and France that are the biggest threats to the U.S. This U.S. team is still by far the deepest and most skilled team going to the Olympics in Paris. Finally, the gap might be a lot closer than it has ever been however, it is still going to take an amazing game from the other countries to stop the U.S. from getting five gold medals in a row.
