As of today, the Houston Rockets expect two representatives at the 2024 Paris Olympics this summer: forward Dillon Brooks and center Jock Landale. The contest begins in late July.
Brooks is expected to compete as a defensive ace for Canada, while Landale will be part of the big-man rotation for Australia. In most games at the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup, Brooks started at small forward for the Canadians during their bronze-medal run.
This year, Canada and Australia (both in Group A) are among 12 teams who in the men’s basketball tournament at the 2024 Olympics. Other teams include the United States, France, Germany, Japan, Serbia, Greece, Brazil, Puerto Rico, Serbia, and South Sudan, which will be coached by current Rockets assistant Royal Ivey.
Young prospects Jabari Smith Jr. and Amen Thompson are part of USA Basketball’s training camp for the Olympics, though their participation is on a Select Team that is tasked with helping prepare the Olympics group during practices and scrimmages.
Barring injury, neither Smith nor Thompson will be a consideration to actually play for the U.S. men’s team at the Olympics.
In 2023, Landale injured his ankle during a game in August while competing for Australia’s national team, and his fitness was compromised during the early stages of the ensuing 2023-24 NBA season. The hope is obviously for better injury luck this time around.
[lawrence-related id=124551,116565,116435]
The Australian Boomers team for the 2024 Paris Olympics has been finalised, sources told ESPN.
Josh Giddey
Dyson Daniels
Josh Green
Patty Mills
Danté Exum
Jock Landale
Duop Reath
Joe Ingles
Jack McVeigh
Will Magnay
Matthew Dellavedova
Nick Kay— Olgun Uluc (@OlgunUluc) July 5, 2024
Missed this from earlier in May when Dillon Brooks went to watch a EuroLeague game.
He was asked about Canada at the Olympics, and he replied
"We all think the same goal, it's to win the Gold […] Add a couple players and you know, do the thing again"
Credit to @Eurohoopsnet pic.twitter.com/0uZGMRkhf2
— Jonathan Chen (@jonathancchenn) May 29, 2024