3. Victor Wembanyama, France
The reigning Rookie of the 12 months is perhaps the participant most in a position to individually have an effect on his group’s fortunes because of his mix of shot-blocking, taking pictures and passing. France has different NBA gamers like Rudy Gobert and Nic Batum, however the 7-foot-4 Wembanyama is the difference-maker. His group has struggled in warmup video games, however nobody will do not forget that if Wemby can carry dwelling gold in his dwelling nation. He’ll go from being a future NBA MVP to a present nationwide hero.
4. Kevin Durant, USA
Durant has an opportunity to set a file for males’s basketball by profitable his fourth gold medal, if his injured calf muscle will cooperate. KD acquired unfair criticism for leaping to the Golden State Warriors in 2016, but it surely’s clear that the “Slim Reaper” thrives on an excellent group, whether or not it is within the common season or the Olympic Video games. Bringing dwelling one other gold can be unprecedented for Durant, who additionally needs to validate Workforce USA’s alternative to stay with him by way of his accidents.
5. Patty Mills, Australia
Mills is taking part in in his fourth Olympics because the elder member of an Australian era of gamers that is making a huge effect within the NBA. The Boomers have 9 present or former NBA gamers, third behind simply Canada and the USA, together with latest lottery picks Josh Giddey and Dyson Daniels. Mills scored 42 factors within the bronze medal recreation on the Tokyo Video games to win Australia its first ever basketball medal. One other medal would make him definitively Australia’s biggest worldwide participant.
6. Dennis Schroder, Germany
Schroder was the flag-bearer on the opening ceremonies for the German Olympic group, partly due to his position main his dwelling nation to gold on the 2023 FIBA World Cup. For a participant who’s maybe finest identified for “fumbling the bag” by turning down an enormous long-term contract from the Los Angeles Lakers, Schroder has been a killer in worldwide play. Paired with the Orlando Magic’s Wagner brothers (Franz and Mo), Schroder has an opportunity to redefine his legacy — so long as he would not fumble a medal as properly.
7. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Greece
The Greek Freak was injured for every of the final two NBA playoffs, which has made NBA followers underestimate the two-time MVP after the Milwaukee Bucks misplaced within the first spherical in 2023 and 2024. However Antetokounmpo would possibly nonetheless be the very best basketball participant on the planet when he is wholesome, and he seems to be so heading into the Paris Video games. He and his Greek group have a brutal preliminary group alongside Germany, Canada and the world’s No. 2 group, Spain, however Antetokounmpo might ship an enormous message by knocking off a number of of the powerhouses.
8. Nikola Jokic, Serbia
Jokic is a three-time NBA MVP whose Serbian group made the FIBA World Cup last final summer time with out him. Now he is again on the group and in a gaggle with Workforce USA, South Sudan and Puerto Rico, the place Serbia ought to advance. The one upside to Jokic’s early playoff exit with the Denver Nuggets is that he had an additional month to relaxation, watch horse racing and put together to take out his NBA frustration on different nationwide groups.
9. Rudy Gobert, France
Gobert will get to play in entrance of his dwelling followers for the Olympics after a run to the convention finals with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Nonetheless, probably the most profitable playoffs of Gobert’s profession was marred by constant criticism of his protection even after he gained Defensive Participant of the 12 months. For France, Gobert must show he can play offense alongside Wembanyama. Plus, after shedding the gold medal recreation by simply 5 factors in Tokyo, Gobert needs revenge on Workforce USA, and all his critics.
10. Jayson Tatum, USA
For a man who simply gained his first NBA title with the Boston Celtics, Tatum has spent the summer time catching loads of strays. Carmelo Anthony said Tatum did not have the “aura” to be the face of the NBA. Workforce USA’s Joel Embiid discredited Tatum’s championship by complaining that Tatum had a “super-team” round him in Boston. However the getting old Workforce USA goes to wish Tatum in some unspecified time in the future in Paris. Would profitable gold and an NBA title in the identical summer time lastly silence his haters?