Tag: Olympic games

How Olympic stars are performing so far in 2024-25

HoopsHype examines how some of the NBA’s biggest starts are performing after taking part in the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Although the Olympics are viewed as the top international tournament for basketball players and a huge honor to participate in, playing there is still a sacrifice that could have negative consequences, particularly for NBA players coming off of strenuous 82-game seasons plus long playoff runs.

Some of those players’ 2023-24 seasons ended in May or early June, giving them a short turnaround before the Olympic basketball tournament started in late July, ending in August. There were also pre-tournament exhibition games in which those players had to partake. Those same players then had to return to their NBA teams in late September for the start of training camp.

That’s a whole lot of basketball without much rest.

Let’s see how some of the game’s biggest stars are performing after such a tough year of nonstop basketball.

The best Team USA player in each Olympic tournament since 1992

HoopsHype uses Global Rating data to select the best Team USA player at each Olympics since 1992, starting with the Dream Team.

Team USA has won a gold medal in men’s basketball in every Olympic Tournament since 1992 outside of one, the disastrous 2004 bronze-medal showing in Athens. USA Basketball has now won five straight gold medals in and will look to make it six in a row at the Los Angeles Games in 2028.

Of course, some all-time greats have suited up and played for Team USA at the Olympics, including the Top 2 in just about everyone’s GOAT rankings – Michael Jordan and LeBron James – and various other all-timers like Kobe Bryant, Stephen Curry, Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett and the borderline unquestioned Team USA GOAT, Kevin Durant, as well as so many other icons of the sport.

Today, we’re going to take a look at the best Team USA player in each Olympics since 1992 using our own Global Rating metric to determine the top American at each summer tournament. There are some surprises in here so be ready.

Spoiler alert: Durant and James dominate this list. Oh, and a role player was the best American at the 2020 Olympics, which was one of the weaker Team USA Olympic squads since NBA players started being allowed to participate for the U.S.

Ten Olympic players who deserve a look from the NBA

There follows a look at 10 players from the Olympics who are not currently playing in the NBA, but who could be: Guerschon Yabusele, Mathias Lessort and more.

The 2024 Olympic Basketball Tournament is over, and with it, so is all meaningful summer basketball. There are now a couple of months of relative downtime before the majority of the world’s leagues resume play, including the NBA.

Roster construction and scouting, though, never stop. And while the bulk of business is long since done, new information is coming in all the time, and situations are forever fluid. In particular, some players earned themselves some good money with their performances at these Games, and may have played their way onto the NBA radar.

There follows a look at 10 players from the Olympics who are not currently playing in the NBA, but who could be.

Olympic ranking: The National Teams with the best point differential in tournament history

HoopsHype looks at the national basketball teams with the highest point differentials in Olympic Games history, including the Dream Team and the 2024 team.

With the 2024 Olympic Games from Paris officially wrapped up, we decided to review history and examine the National Teams with the highest point differentials in Olympic basketball history.

Somewhat noteworthy: The 2024 USA Basketball team – despite being as loaded as it was with LeBron James, Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant – had merely the 21st-best point differential in history, which speaks to how far the rest of the world has progressed in basketball. Meanwhile, the Dream Team led by Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson and Charles Barkley ranks second in differential… and No. 1 since NBA players compete in the Olympic tournament.

Below, check out the national basketball teams with the best average point differential in Olympic Games history.

Watch: Steph Curry drills signature no-look 3-pointer in Olympics vs. Serbia

Steph Curry brought the no-look 3-pointer to the Olympics.

Fans of the NBA, especially the Golden State Warriors, have seen it many times: Stephen Curry looking away from the ball and running back down the court as it sails through the air before it swishes through the net.

The lookaway 3-pointer, the no-look shot, whatever you want to call it, but it’s something a shooter of Curry’s caliber only dares to do. It’s become a signature move for the two-time Most Valuable Player.

On Sunday morning, Curry broke out the no-look jumper for the first time in the Olympic Games. In his Olympic debut, Curry began to jog back down the court before his 3-point attempt fell through the bottom of the rim. The shot sent the French crowd into a frenzy. Curry’s teammate, Kevin Durant, was celebrating on the bench.

Via @TheWarriorsTalk on Twitter:

Curry finished his first Olympic game with 11 points on 4-of-8 shooting from the field to go along with three assists and three rebounds in 21 minutes during USA’s win over Serbia, 110-84.

This post originally appeared on Warriors Wire! Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

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Social media reacts to USA dominating Serbia in Olympics opener: ‘Kevin Durant the best FIBA player ever’

Team USA started off slow in the Olympic Games opener against Serbia, but quickly turned things around to secure a dominant 110-84 victory. Kevin Durant led the way with 23 points, including 21 in the first half without missing a single shot, while …

Team USA started off slow in the Olympic Games opener against Serbia, but quickly turned things around to secure a dominant 110-84 victory. Kevin Durant led the way with 23 points, including 21 in the first half without missing a single shot, while LeBron James contributed 21 points, seven rebounds, and nine assists in 27 minutes. Nikola Jokic had 20 points and eight assists.

Check out some of the immediate reactions after the game.

Ranking: The Top 15 players in Olympic basketball history

Olympic basketball ignites a competitive fire like no other national team competition. Most of the best NBA players have made at least one appearance at the Games. Some others without NBA experience have become legends in their own right due to …

Olympic basketball ignites a competitive fire like no other national team competition. Most of the best NBA players have made at least one appearance at the Games. Some others without NBA experience have become legends in their own right due to their performances on the Olympic courts alone.

According to the HoopsHype crew, these are the best 15 players in the history of the competition. For this exercise, we’re rewarding players who played and excelled in multiple Olympic tournaments.

NBA players who were flag bearers at the Olympic Games

Rui Hachimura and guard Patrick Mills are the latest NBA players to bear their country flag at the Olympic Games opening ceremony. 

LeBron James, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Dennis Schroeder are the latest NBA players to bear their country’s flag at the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games. He joins a select group that includes Dirk Nowitzki, Pau Gasol, Manu Ginobili, and Yao Ming.

Check out the full list in the gallery below.

LOOK: Wisconsin Badger greats train with USA Basketball, NBA’s biggest stars

LOOK: Wisconsin Badger greats train with USA Basketball, NBA’s biggest stars

Former Wisconsin basketball greats Nigel Hayes-Davis and Micah Potter continue to train with the USA Men’s Basketball team as it prepares for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France.

The two are part of the USA Select Team, a group of current and former college basketball stars who serve as USA Basketball’s ‘practice squad’ during its Olympic preparation.

Related: Big Ten basketball teams ranked by returning production entering 2024-25 season

Importantly, they get to train alongside NBA greats including LeBron James, Steph Curry, Anthony Davis, Anthony Edwards, Kevin Durant, Joel Embiid, Jayson Tatum and Bam Adebayo.

Both Potter and Hayes-Davis are looking for a permanent role at the NBA level. Potter currently plays for the Utah Jazz’s G League affiliate, while Hayes-Davis has become a star in the Turkish League. This opportunity should help the two make a possible return to the NBA.

 

The two former Badgers have been on the bench for USA Basketball’s exhibition wins over Canada and Australia. Potter even saw action in the former, hitting a corner three-pointer in the game’s final minutes.

The two will continue to train with the team as the 2024 Olympic Games draw closer.

Next up for USA Basketball is an exhibition contest against Serbia at Noon ET on July 17. Then a few games next week in the United Kingdom before beginning the 2024 Olympic Games on July 28.

Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion.

2024 Paris Olympic games is chock full of Texas Longhorns

37 current and former Texas Longhorns set to compete and coach at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games

After three years and 354 days of anticipation, we are just 11 days away from the 2024 Paris Olympics opening ceremony.

There is always a certain level of excitement for the worldwide event from even casual sports fans as we head into the dog days of summer. With the NFL, NBA, and NHL out of season and the MLB being on break at All-Star weekend, people are clamoring for sports.

The 2024 Summer Olympic Games will run from July 26 to August 11 with 329 different events in 32 sports. The Texas Longhorns were strongly represented at the 2020 Tokyo Games with 29 athletes but will be out in even larger numbers this go around with 30 current and former athletes competing and seven coaches participating.

14 of those athletes will represent the United States at the Olympic games tying the Longhorns for the fourth most active competitors behind the Stanford Cardinals (38), UCLA Bruins (17), USC Trojans (16), and Penn State Nittany Lions (14 as well).

Golfer Scottie Scheffler and three-time basketball gold medalist Kevin Durant highlight the group, but both Men’s and Women’s Track and Field and Men’s and Women’s Swimming will have 10 current or former athletes in Paris.

According to the University of Texas website, a total of 162 University of Texas athletes have participated in the Olympics and captured a combined 156 medals (89 gold, 43 silver and 24 bronze).

Contact/Follow us @LonghornsWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Sam Murphy on Twitter @SamMurphy02.