Big Basketball Stars Ready for Final Eight Games at Paris Olympics 2024

PARIS — The men's basketball quarterfinals at the Paris Olympics are set to showcase a lineup filled with NBA champions, All-Stars, and award winners.

The excitement is palpable as all four matchups carry the intensity of a Game 7. This Tuesday marks a crucial day in the Olympic men’s tournament, where eight teams will compete, four will be eliminated, and the remaining four will inch closer to their dreams of securing a medal in France.

Quarterfinal Matchups:

- Team USA, the four-time defending gold medalists, will face Brazil.

- Canada will go head-to-head with France, both considered pre-tournament medal favorites.

- Reigning World Cup champions Germany will take on Greece.

- Serbia will compete against Australia.

Each game features at least one NBA champion, an MVP winner or finalist, and several perennial All-Stars, with Team USA boasting around ten.

U.S. coach Steve Kerr expressed confidence in his team’s preparation, stating, "The guys are well prepared. They’ve adapted to the unique circumstances of having 12 NBA starters adjust to being a cohesive team here. Everyone is committed to the goal, which is now within reach."

A total of 15 current or former All-Stars remain in the competition, collectively holding 97 All-Star selections. Notable players include Greece’s Giannis Antetokounmpo, Serbia’s Nikola Jokic, France’s Rudy Gobert, and Canada’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

“It’s a lot of great teams,” remarked U.S. forward LeBron James, who is aiming for his fourth Olympic medal and third gold.

While some players are seasoned veterans at this stage—like Australia’s Patty Mills and Joe Ingles, both making their fifth Olympic quarterfinal appearances—others, like Antetokounmpo, are experiencing this level of competition for the first time. "I’m happy to be here and won’t take it for granted," he said.

Also in the spotlight is France’s Victor Wembanyama, the NBA Rookie of the Year, who carries the hopes of his nation on his shoulders. "To win it all, we have to beat everyone eventually," he stated.

Team USA, Germany, and Canada remain unbeaten, but the stakes are high; any loss means elimination. The quarterfinals promise to deliver drama, as the winners will advance to the semifinals, where the losers will have a chance to compete for the bronze medal.

“This is the most important game of the tournament,” said Serbia’s Bogdan Bogdanovic. “Winning the quarterfinals gives you a shot at the medal, which is why we’re here.”

The path to the semifinals will be challenging, particularly for the Canada-France winner, who will face the winner of the Germany-Greece matchup. The other semifinal will see the U.S.-Brazil victor take on either Serbia or Australia.

Canada’s coach, Jordi Fernandez, noted the importance of maintaining a Game 7 mentality, especially after navigating a tough group stage that included France, Greece, and Spain. "We knew we couldn’t relax against such strong teams," he said.

The quarterfinals will take place in Paris, following the group stage held in Lille.

Betting Odds:

According to BetMGM Sportsbook, Team USA is favored by 26.5 points against Brazil, while Canada, Germany, and Serbia are all 7.5-point favorites for their respective matchups.

Team USA is heavily favored to win the gold medal, with odds at minus-650, followed by Canada and Germany at plus-900, and Serbia at plus-2,000.

Medal History:

Team USA has an impressive record with 19 medals (16 gold, one silver, and two bronze) in its Olympic history. Other teams have varying medal histories, with France earning silver in 2020, Australia taking bronze in 2020, and Serbia winning silver in 2016. Brazil and Canada have historical medals, while Germany and Greece are still seeking their first Olympic medals.

Stat Leaders:

Among the players still in contention:

- Points: Giannis Antetokounmpo (Greece) 27.0, Franz Wagner (Germany) 21.7, RJ Barrett (Canada) 21.0.

- Rebounds: Nikola Jokic (Serbia) 11.0, Victor Wembanyama (France) 10.7.

- Assists: Dennis Schroder (Germany) 9.0, LeBron James (USA) 7.3.

Standings:

The final rankings for places 5-8 will be determined after the quarterfinal games, while the group stage concluded with South Sudan finishing ninth, Spain tenth, Japan eleventh, and Puerto Rico twelfth.