Basketball at Paris 2024: USA face showdown against Nikola Jokic’s Serbia, but who else will they play?
Team USA men got a glimpse of their Olympic basketball fate after an official draw conducted on 19 March revealed their pool for the basketball tournament at Paris 2024.
The defending champions - hunting their 17th Olympic gold medal - were drawn into Group C for the group phase, starting on 27 July in Lille’s Pierre Mauroy Stadium.
Though not as tough as other groups, the Americans are still set to face early challenges.
Up first, on 28 July, will be a showdown against World Cup silver medallists Serbia, which is expected to be fronted by two-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic.
Jokic, known across the Atlantic as ‘The Joker’ for his outlandish talent and game smarts, wasn’t a part of the team that finished runners-up at FIBA’s showpiece event last year but has a strong history representing his side including winning an Olympic silver medal at Rio 2016.
Now at the peak of his powers, and looking like a top contender to pick up a third NBA MVP gong, Jokic, coupled with a strong Serbian supporting cast, will be a stern test for Steve Kerr and his American ensemble.
Paris 2024: USA v South Sudan
After Serbia, on 31 July, the US will then take on tournament newcomers South Sudan.
The African nation made history after qualifying for the Games on its first attempt following a fairytale run at the FIBA World Cup last year.
With the US set to play against South Sudan as part of a string of warm-up games ahead of Paris, the chance for their opponents to spring an upset looks unlikely but they will be a side Kerr will not take likely.
NBA G League player Carlik Jones was a standout for the South Sudanese at the World Cup, dishing out 15 assists in an impressive performance against Angola, while keen eyes will be on teenager Khaman Maluach who is widely expected to be a top pick for the 2025 NBA Draft.
IT'S OFFICIAL! 🎉 The draw for the group stage of the women's and men's basketball at @Paris2024 has been set. 🏀
— The Olympic Games (@Olympics) March 19, 2024
What do you think of these groups? 👀@FIBA | #Paris2024 | #Basketball pic.twitter.com/Hyux0xkTyu
A third group stage opponent awaits
The third and final opponent the US will play in the group phase on 3 August will be decided based on the outcome of the Olympic Qualifying Tournament in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
The last-chance qualifier, taking place 2-7 July, will see one of Bahrain, Cote d’Ivoire, Italy, Lithuania, Mexico and Puerto Rico secure a quota spot for Paris.
Three-time Olympic bronze medallists Lithuania will be the likely candidate to emerge triumphant in Puerto Rico having had an impressive run at the World Cup in the Philippines, Japan and Indonesia.
The Europeans, fronted by New Orleans Pelicans big man Jonas Valanciunas, pulled off an upset at the event after defeating the US 110-104 during the tournament’s round-robin phase.
It spurred them onto an impressive run, which included a victory over a Luka Doncic-led Slovenia before ultimately placing sixth.
Nikola Jokic in action during the men's basketball tournament at Rio 2016
USA v the rest of the world
After each team has played each other once in their groups the top two teams, and the two best-finishing third-placed teams, will advance to the quarterfinals.
Teams will be seeded and drawn and measures will ensure teams in the same group don’t meet again for the quarters. From there, the tournament will adopt a classic knockout style until an Olympic champion is crowned.
But who else will the US have to keep an eye out for?
While Team USA might be quietly content with their group, the battle-hardened teams that emerge from the other harder pools will be worth watching closely.
Group A, widely held to be the most challenging, contains Australia, Canada and the winners of two Olympic Qualifying Tournaments, in Greece and Spain.
From Greece could emerge either Slovenia, Greece, Dominican Republic, New Zealand, Croatia or Egypt, and from Spain either Poland, Bahamas, Lebanon, Finland, Angola or Spain.
Group B, also tricky for its quality, will include reigning world champions Germany, hosts France, Japan and the winner of the Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Latvia. That could be either Brazil, Cameroon, Georgia, Latvia, Montenegro or Philippines.