Last weekend the 2024 Olympic Games wrapped up in Paris, France with Team USA Men’s Basketball Team on top of the basketball world. As a result of them beating Team France in a thriller last Saturday Afternoon. Throughout the 2024 Olympic Games, there were numerous star players from the NBA who played for their respective countries’ basketball teams. Additionally, because of that amount of talent coming together and learning how to play with each other, there are a few players who will explode out of the gates during the following NBA Season. For example, last season it was Anthony Edwards who started out fast after playing during last summer’s FIBA World Cup.
3 NBA Stars Headed For A Post-Olympics Explosion This Season
Tyrese Haliburton
One player who did not get to display all of his talents during the 2024 Olympics was Tyrese Haliburton. Notably, he only played in three games for Team USA during the Olympics and scored eight points in total. Additionally, after his postseason run ended because of a hamstring injury he has a lot to prove this upcoming season.
Haliburton will have another year under his belt, and thanks to practicing against some of the best players in the world over the summer. He will have added some new wrinkles to his game. This will allow him to be more effective as a point guard and a foundational piece in Indiana priming him for a scoring explosion when the 2024-25 NBA Regular Season begins in two months.
The one thing Haliburton is missing from his game is the ability to truly take over and impose his will during a contest. He is more of a prototypical player who will let the game come to him instead of taking it over. If he can learn how to better balance taking over a game and feeding his teammates then the Pacers will not only be a top-four team in the loaded Eastern Conference but they will also be in a great position to return to the Eastern Conference Finals and compete for a title this year.
Devin Booker
Devin Booker is one of the best players in the world. However, during the 2024 Olympics, he was more of a defensive specialist who took on the opposing team’s best offensive player. If Booker can play defense like he did during the Olympics while also continuing to be Phoenix’s best offensive weapon, then the Phoenix Suns will be in a great position to finally have a deep playoff run.
Also, Booker had a chance to improve his chemistry with Kevin Durant during these past two weeks. That can only help them learn how to play with each other even more as they enter the second full year of their partnership. If he can be the Devin Booker who is willing to sacrifice for the greater good of the team, then the Suns will become a championship contender this season.
Joel Embiid
Another player who had an up-and-down Olympics was Joel Embiid. The Sixers’ big man did not play in Team USA’s game against South Sudan and only played for 11 minutes against Team France in the gold medal game. However, his best game came last week against Serbia. Notably, he scored 19 points during this contest and helped Team USA beat Serbia to get to the gold medal game against Team France.
This was Embiid’s first Olympics experience, and it took him a while to adjust to the FIBA style of play. Once that finally happened basketball fans got to see why he is one of the best players in the world. Also, the next step in his development as a superstar player will be to learn how to sacrifice for the betterment of the team.
During these last two weeks, Embiid got a taste of what that life is like. As he was asked to be more of a defensive piece than an offensive piece. If Embiid can learn how to balance being his dominant self, with getting his teammates more involved in the gameplan then the Sixers will be in great shape to compete for a championship this year.
