Fans of a particular NBA team will likely have a player to root for in the Paris Olympics. It’s not just Team USA either as there are NBA players throughout the 12 nations taking part. Altogether, 26 of the 30 teams in the league have at least one player participating for one of the 12 countries involved.
That means that there are four teams that won’t be represented in the 2024 Olympics in men’s basketball. Here they are along with players taking part that used to play for their team.
The 4 NBA Teams Without A Player In The Paris Olympics
Cleveland Cavaliers
The most famous Cavaliers player of all time, LeBron James, won a gold medal with the USA in 2008 while with Cleveland. A 41-man player pool was announced for the USA men’s national team back in January. Both Donovan Mitchell and Jarrett Allen were listed among the 41 NBA players, but neither of them received the call to be on the Olympics roster. Former Cavaliers who are on Olympic rosters include James (USA), Dante Exum (Australia), and Matthew Dellavedova (Australia).
Detroit Pistons
While Evan Fournier will be playing for France, he currently remains a free agent in the NBA. The 31-year-old ended last season with Detroit after being dealt to them by the Knicks. It shouldn’t be all that surprising that a team that went 14-68 last season doesn’t have an Olympian. In 2021, Jerami Grant, then of the Pistons, was a member of USA’s gold medal-winning squad. Some former Detroit players taking part in the Paris Olympics are Fournier (France), Kelly Olynyk (Canada), and Trey Lyles (Canada).
New York Knicks
If Villanova was a country, the Knicks would likely be well-represented at the Paris Olympics. Since it’s not, there are no current New York players taking part. Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart were both on the disappointing 2023 U.S. FIBA Basketball World Cup team. So was Mikal Bridges, who then was with the Brooklyn Nets. All three of them were included in the 41-man player pool. Knicks legend Patrick Ewing was a part of the U.S. Dream Team in 1992 that easily won gold. Two former Knicks players who will be in action are Fournier (France) and RJ Barrett (Canada).
Utah Jazz
Also on that 2023 U.S. FIBA Basketball World Cup team was Jazz center Walker Kessler. The seven-footer was also included in the 41-man player pool. The famed 1992 Dream Team had two Utah players in the famous pick-and-roll duo of Karl Malone and John Stockton. Players formerly of the Jazz that are involved in Olympic play include Exum (Australia), Olynyk (Canada), Lyles (Canada), Rudy Gobert (France), and Joe Ingles (Australia).
Team USA Remains Large Favorites
Despite escaping with narrow wins against South Sudan and Germany in exhibition play, Team USA remains heavy favorites to take home the gold. According to DraftKings Sportsbook, USA is listed as -500 favorites to win the gold medal. The next three countries listed that have much longer odds are Canada (+1100), France (+1200), and Serbia (+1600). Since NBA players have been allowed to take part in the Olympics, Team USA has won the gold seven of eight times (won bronze in 2004).
