Whenever it comes to Olympic basketball, it’s always hard to look beyond the USA team as the most likely winners.
After all, they have won 16 of the 19 Olympic basketball events, with the former USSR (twice) and Argentina the only nations to defeat them since the sport was added to the Summer Games schedule in 1936.
The USA have also reached the last eight of the competition at the ongoing Paris Olympics, but will face stern competition from Canada, Germany and host nation France. But can anyone really stop the Americans from winning a 17th basketball gold medal at the Summer Games?
USA’s Path to the Final – Is it as Easy as it Seems?
At first glance, Team USA’s road to a 17th gold at the Paris Olympics appears relatively straightforward. They managed to earn the top seed to play Brazil in Tuesday’s quarterfinal, with either Serbia or Australia awaiting in the last four.
Although Serbia boasts three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic in their ranks, they lack the depth and quality of the USA team, while they were defeated by 26 points by the Americans in a recent exhibition game in Abu Dhabi. The USA repeated this margin of victory against the Serbs in their Olympic Group C opener in Lille too.
If Australia reach the last four, they can at least draw confidence from a highly competitive performance against Team USA in the Middle East prior to the tournament. However, they were still edged out 98-92, despite the USA missing several key names (including Kevin Durant).
So, it’s no surprise that the USA are the heavy betting favourites to prevail in France, and you can back them to win while also accessing your choice of 1bit registration bonuses.
Canada, Germany or Hosts France – Who May Await in the Final?
Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (who came second in the NBA MVP voting behind Jokic in 2023/24) is representing Canada at this year’s Olympics, and has spoken confidently about his team’s chances of winning a first gold medal in the sport.
It’s fair to say that this confidence is justified, too. After all, Canada went 3-0 during the group phase, while they have more NBA talent in their ranks than anyone outside of Team USA (including Gilgeous-Alexander, Jamal Murray, RJ Barrett, Dillon Brooks and Andrew Nembhard).
Sure, the USA defeated Canada 86-72 in Las Vegas during an exhibition match prior to the Games, but Canada has more than enough quality to trouble their esteemed opponents.
Canada will face a tough task against host nation France in the last eight, however, with the latter inspired by the precocious Victor Wembanyama. The towering 20-year-old has scored 51 points in the tournament so far, including 14 (and 12 rebounds) during an 85-71 defeat to Germany in their final group match.
This was Les Bleus’ only defeat of the group phase, and the passionate home support could propel them to an unexpected success in Paris.
Germany, who will face Greece in the quarterfinals, are another dark horse in the tournament. They were superb against France, with NBA stars Franz Wagner and Dennis Schröder scoring 26 points apiece and forming a lethal offensive partnership.
It should also be noted that Germany took Team USA down to the wire in London during a pre-tournament exhibition, losing by just four points (92-88) after an end-to-end encounter.
Ultimately, it’s hard to imagine anyone other than Team USA claiming the coveted Olympic Gold this summer. However, they may face their toughest challenge for years in the French capital!
