Team USA will be favorites as men’s basketball tips off at the Paris Olympics 2024, but they will have All-Star competition from some of the best international players in the world this year.
The Americans have won four straight Olympic gold medals. In the 2020 games (held in Tokyo in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic), Team USA lost a game in the group stage—just their sixth loss in a group or tournament stage game—but they bounced back and claimed an 87-82 victory over France in the final.
At the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, the United States men’s basketball team blew out Serbia 96-66 to claim the gold.
Overall, Team USA has won 16 gold medals, falling just twice in the history of men’s basketball at the Olympics.
Never forget when Team USA put up the GREATEST scoring performance in men’s Olympic basketball history with 156 POINTS. 🤯 pic.twitter.com/3M3p8jzxG5
— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) July 16, 2024
How To Watch Olympic Men’s Basketball
Here is the full schedule for the Men’s Olympic Basketball Tournament at the 2024 Paris Olympics with the times converted to Eastern Standard Time (EST):
Group Phase
July 27, 2024
- 5:00 AM – Group A: Australia vs. Spain
- 7:30 AM – Group B: Germany vs. Japan
- 11:15 AM – Group B: France vs. Brazil
- 3:00 PM – Group A: Greece vs. Canada
With his son holding a “Paris 2024 Bound” sign in front of him, tears fill @Giannis_An34‘s eyes as he leads Greece to the Olympics.
What a moment. pic.twitter.com/BBnC9IK13W
— Stephen Watson (@SWatsonTV) July 7, 2024
July 28, 2024
- 5:00 AM – Group C: South Sudan vs. Puerto Rico
- 11:15 AM – Group C: Serbia vs. USA
July 30, 2024
- 5:00 AM – Group A: Spain vs. Greece
- 7:30 AM – Group A: Canada vs. Australia
- 11:15 AM – Group B: Japan vs. France
- 3:00 PM – Group B: Brazil vs. Germany
July 31, 2024
- 11:15 AM – Group C: Puerto Rico vs. Serbia
- 3:00 PM – Group C: USA vs. South Sudan
August 2, 2024
- 5:00 AM – Group B: Japan vs. Brazil
- 7:30 AM – Group A: Australia vs. Greece
- 11:15 AM – Group A: Canada vs. Spain
- 3:00 PM – Group B: France vs. Germany
August 3, 2024
- 11:15 AM – Group C: Puerto Rico vs. USA
- 3:00 PM – Group C: Serbia vs. South Sudan
Special moment for Carlos Arroyo as he returns to the Olympic stage with Puerto Rico 🇵🇷 #FIBAOQT pic.twitter.com/n3Itnj3xq1
— FIBA (@FIBA) July 8, 2024
Knockout Phase
August 6, 2024
- 5:00 AM – Men’s Quarterfinal 1
- 8:30 AM – Men’s Quarterfinal 2
- 12:00 PM – Men’s Quarterfinal 3
- 3:30 PM – Men’s Quarterfinal 4
August 8, 2024
- 11:30 AM – Men’s Semifinal 1
- 3:00 PM – Men’s Semifinal 2
August 10, 2024
- 5:00 AM – Men’s Bronze Medal Game
- 3:30 PM – Men’s Gold Medal Game
Where To Watch Olympic Men’s Basketball
You can watch the men’s basketball games at the 2024 Paris Olympics across various NBCUniversal platforms.
- NBC: NBC will provide comprehensive live coverage, including prime-time shows, key events and highlights throughout the Games.
- Peacock: Peacock will be the main streaming service for the Olympics, offering live coverage of every event and full-event replays.
- USA Network: USA Network will be the primary channel for team sports, including basketball.
- CNBC: CNBC will cover various sports, including basketball, along with other events like boxing and skateboarding.
- E!: E! will provide coverage of a range of sports, including track & field and gymnastics, and will include basketball games as well.
- Telemundo and Universo: For Spanish-language coverage, Telemundo and Universo will offer extensive programming, including live broadcasts and daily recaps.
Additionally, special channels like Paris Extra 1 and Paris Extra 2 will offer 24/7 Olympics programming with live action during the competition day and replays overnight, available through various cable and satellite providers
Players To Know
Team USA
Anthony Edwards just sit and watch Kevin Durant film, true student 🤝🏽 pic.twitter.com/LJ0A6yC1Lr
— 𝐇𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 ✰ (@Hatedzs) July 15, 2024
The Americans have a number of superstars heading to Paris, including:
- LeBron James: Arguably the greatest player of all time returns for presumably his final Olympic run.
- Stephen Curry: James’ longtime rival becomes a gold-seeking teammate.
- Jayson Tatum: The defending champion was once an heir to the NBA’s throne but is now entering his prime.
- Anthony Edwards: Young, explosive and exciting, Edwards is considered next up in NBA circles.
- Kevin Durant: If Team USA wins gold, the veteran star forward would become the first male athlete to win four gold medals in any team sport.
International Players
International development, however, has created formidable competition for the United States.
- Nikola Jokic (Serbia): Arguably the greatest player in the world right now, the three-time MVP big man leads a talented Serbian squad with a chance to make a deep run.
- Victor Wembanyama (France): Just an NBA rookie this past season, the towering 20-year-old’s two-way potential is one of one.
- Giannis Antetokounmpo (Greece): The Bucks superstar helped Greece reach the Olympics for the first time since 2008.
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Canada): One of the NBA’s most potent scorers, Gilgeous-Alexander was second in MVP voting last season.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
