Men’s 5×5 Basketball at the 2024 Paris Olympics: Key Details, Team USA Highlights, and What to Expect
Men’s 5×5 Basketball at the 2024 Paris Olympics: A Preview
Men’s 5×5 Basketball at the 2024 Paris Olympics: Key Details, Team USA Highlights, and What to Expect The global competition in men’s basketball has become increasingly fierce, as demonstrated by recent FIBA World Cup results where the U.S. has not secured a medal since 2014. However, the American team remains a strong contender for gold, particularly when fielding its best players for the Olympics.
At the 2024 Paris Olympics, the U.S. men’s basketball team, featuring stars like LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Steph Curry, is expected to be a top contender in the 5×5 event. The team will compete in Group C alongside Serbia, South Sudan, and Puerto Rico.
While the U.S. has experienced some close games and a notable loss to France (83-76) at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, the team has a strong track record. Their only Olympic loss before Tokyo was in the 2004 Athens semifinals. Since then, the U.S. has claimed gold medals in 2008, 2012, 2016, and 2020.
Group stage matches will be held at Pierre Mauroy Stadium in Lille, located 140 miles north of Paris. The quarterfinals, semifinals, and final will take place at the Accor Arena in Paris.
When did 5×5 men’s basketball become an Olympic sport?
Men’s 5×5 basketball first appeared in the Olympics at the 1936 Berlin Games, where the U.S. secured its inaugural gold medal. At that time, the sport was played outdoors, and its inventor, James Naismith, was present to award the medals. Since the 2004 Athens Olympics, where the U.S. won bronze, the American team has claimed gold in four consecutive Games. Over the past 56 years, only the Soviet Union, Yugoslavia, and Argentina have managed to win gold, highlighting the U.S.’s dominance in the sport.
How does Olympic 5×5 men’s basketball work?
The men’s Olympic 5×5 basketball event features 12 teams divided into three groups of four. Each team plays against the other three teams in their group during the group stage. The top two teams from each group, along with two wildcard teams, advance to the quarterfinals. In the group stage, teams earn two points for a win and one point for a loss. Tiebreakers are determined by 1) group points, 2) head-to-head results, 3) point differential, and 4) total points scored.
The Olympics follow FIBA rules for men’s senior teams rather than NBA rules. While the gameplay is similar, there are notable differences in FIBA regulations. FIBA games are shorter, with four 10-minute quarters compared to the NBA’s four 12-minute quarters. The 3-point line is closer in FIBA (22 feet, 1¾ inches at the top of the arc and 21 feet, 9 inches in the corners) compared to the NBA’s 23 feet, 9 inches and 22 feet. Players are disqualified after five personal fouls in FIBA, whereas the NBA allows six. FIBA rules permit full zone defenses (without a defensive three-second violation) and allow goaltending (where a ball can be swatted after it touches the rim), which is prohibited in the NBA. Although traveling rules are similar, FIBA referees are generally more stringent in their enforcement.
Who are the top Team USA athletes in 5×5 men’s basketball?
The U.S. men’s basketball team boasts a star-studded lineup, arguably its most impressive since the 2008 Beijing and 2012 London Olympics. The roster includes:
- LeBron James, forward for the Los Angeles Lakers and a four-time NBA champion and MVP, who has previously won Olympic gold medals in 2008 and 2012.
- Anthony Davis, center for the Lakers.
- Stephen Curry, guard for the Golden State Warriors, making his Olympic debut.
- Kevin Durant, forward for the Phoenix Suns and the leading Olympic scorer in U.S. history with 435 points (19.8 points per game), who has three gold medals (2012, 2016, 2020).
- Devin Booker, guard for the Phoenix Suns.
- Joel Embiid, center for the Philadelphia 76ers, also making his Olympic debut.
- Jayson Tatum, forward for the Boston Celtics, who won gold at the 2020 Tokyo Games.
The team is led by head coach Steve Kerr of the Golden State Warriors, with assistant coaches Erik Spoelstra of the Miami Heat, Ty Lue of the Los Angeles Clippers, and Mark Few of Gonzaga University.
What’s the international landscape in Olympic 5×5 men’s basketball?
As many as 50 current and former NBA players are expected to compete in the Paris Olympics. Key players include:
- Nikola Jokić of the Denver Nuggets, representing Serbia.
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder, playing for Canada.
- Victor Wembanyama, the rookie sensation from the San Antonio Spurs, representing France.
Canada will showcase a strong Olympic team, with a roster featuring NBA stars such as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jamal Murray, RJ Barrett, Dillon Brooks, and Lu Dort. The team aims for its first medal since winning silver at the 1936 Berlin Olympics.
France, as the host nation, faces considerable pressure to perform well, especially with a roster that includes Wembanyama, Nicolas Batum, Rudy Gobert, and Evan Fournier. France won silver at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics but had a disappointing 18th-place finish at the 2023 FIBA World Cup.
Germany, bolstered by NBA players like Franz and Moritz Wagner of the Orlando Magic and Dennis Schröder of the Brooklyn Nets, is also a strong medal contender. Serbia, with Jokić, Bogdan Bogdanović of the Atlanta Hawks, and Nikola Jović of the Miami Heat, and Australia, featuring Joe Ingles of the Minnesota Timberwolves, Josh Green of the Charlotte Hornets, Dante Exum of the Dallas Mavericks, and Josh Giddey of the Chicago Bulls, are also expected to be competitive.
Greece, led by Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo, is aiming to secure a medal, while Spain, though no longer at its peak, still boasts a solid squad.
