Over the last 50 years, basketball has exploded in popularity and is now the second most popular sport on the planet. As a result, the global talent pool continues to expand, and American dominance is no longer a foregone conclusion.
Still, Team USA has won seven of its last eight gold medals in men’s basketball. When Americans can assemble a team full of top superstars, they remain tough to beat.
After a five-year hiatus, EuroBasket resumed this month, giving Europe’s best basketball teams a chance to play for one of the hoop’s most coveted awards.
However, the tournament provided the basketball world with an opportunity to rethink the power structure of basketball in Europe ahead of two major global tournaments: the 2023 FIBA World Cup and the 2024 Summer Olympics.
Team USA maintains its top position across the international field, but the gap between the American program and the rest of the national team continues to shrink. It was only three years ago that the United States Men’s National Team finished in his 7th place at the FIBA World Cup. This is a previously unthinkable result.
And while Team USA’s focus has always been on the Olympics rather than the World Cup, both Manila next year and the pair in 2024 could potentially threaten the American’s return to the top of the medal stand. There are several teams with
Tier 1: Most Legitimate Threats
France
Simply put, France is the most complete national team on the planet, aside from Team USA.
France were one win short of the EuroBasket title, but after eliminating team USA in the quarter-finals of the 2019 World Cup in China, France nearly defeated Team USA in the 2021 gold medal game in Tokyo. rice field.
The scary part here is that the French team, fresh off winning silver in Europe, is likely to show even more talent in the next two big international tournaments. Joel EmbiidThe NBA’s reigning scoring champion and one of the best big men in the game is now eligible to play at Les Bleus. So is Victor Wenbanyama, likely the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft and the most coveted draft candidate in years.
The trio of Gobert, Embiid and Wenbanyama could form the most dominant frontcourt in the world, which poses a problem for the American team, which is relatively lacking in frontcourt talent. Easily the best potential talent among guards and wings, the best bigs in the world are almost all international players, and France has at least two of them.
As Team USA builds its 2023 World Cup roster, we’ll learn more about which big men suit Americans, but in Tokyo Bam Adebayo, draymond green When JaVale McGee Who split the time in that center spot.Other candidates should include Jarrett Allen, Robert Williams IIIWhen Miles TurnerThey’re all quality players, but Embiid is a legitimate MVP candidate for good reason. He is currently one of the best players in the world.
added presence of Evan Fournier When Nicholas Batum This means the French team can prepare a lineup featuring five key NBA players at the same time.
As the host nation of the 2024 Paris Olympics, it’s only natural to expect all of France’s top players to appear in front of their home crowds for this once-in-a-generation opportunity to win gold in the City of Light. However, the same Parisian charm works both ways. And it’s no surprise to expect many of Team USA’s best players — Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, lebron james, Kawai Leonard Elsewhere, spend a few weeks in Paris and jump at the chance to win back-to-back Olympic gold in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower.
Tier 2: Top Candidates
Canada
Canada is no longer just for hockey. Its national basketball team is arguably the world’s most improved program in the last five years. Like the French side, the Canadians have plenty of NBA stars. In 2021-22 he has 21 Canadian-born players in his NBA career. Toronto Raptors coach Nick Nurse has also added to lead a Canadian team that is poised to compete for the biggest prize in international basketball.
For players such as Jamal Murray, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Andrew Wiggins When RJ Barrett All available in these next two tournaments. The sky is the limit.
Murray gives them elite scorers, and Wiggins, Barrett and Gilgeous-Alexander may represent the best supporting cast outside of Team USA.
Slovenia
There is only one reason Slovenia is in this debate, his name is Luka DoncicDespite an upset quarter-final loss at EuroBasket, Doncic is one of the only players in international competition who can carry his team to the title.
Doncic showed this potential on 7 September in Cologne with a 47-point win over Gobert and France in Eurobasket.
After winning EuroBasket in 2017 and winning the bronze medal in Tokyo, Slovenia has established itself as a major player in international competition despite its relatively small population of just 2.1 million.
Spain
The Gasol brothers may be gone, but Spanish basketball has proven that the program is still in great shape by winning EuroBasket gold.That feat is more impressive when you think about Ricky RubioHe led this team to a gold medal at the 2019 FIBA World Cup.
The current iteration may lack the star power of the Spanish team that staked the Redeem Team in the 2008 Olympic gold medal game, but the program has the potential to beat any team in the world at any time. There is a nature. .
Tier 3: Wildcard
Greece
Eurobasket gave me Giannis Antetokounmpo A chance to help Greece prove that this national team is a threat to a major international title. gave 107 points. Antetokounmpo may be the best player in the world. His presence is a threat to any opponent night after night, but the lack of depth in the rest of this roster makes Greece never a real threat to win a major global his tournament.
Serbia
The Serbian team had a very similar arc at EuroBasket. Nikola Jokicjoined 24 teams as the narrow favorites to win it all. After being undefeated in his five bouts of the group phase, the knockout quickly upset him in the first bout of his phase, losing to Italy in one of the tournament’s biggest surprises for him. While he was one of only five active NBA players from Serbia last season, Jokic was the only player in that quintet to play in EuroBasket.
Australia
Like Spain, Australia has become one of the most sustainable teams in the world. Patty Mills Scored 42 points and beat Doncic to help Australia beat Slovenia in the bronze medal match in Tokyo.But with Mills Joe Ingles Both are in their mid 30’s. Other contenders boast important young stars, but it’s unclear if Australia can build on its recent success.
Ben Simmons He’s a clear contender to hold the reins, but as the Sixers and Nets have learned, his credibility is questionable. Withdrew from both the Olympics and the 2019 World Cup in Tokyo.
Germany
Germany were one of the biggest surprises in EuroBasket, eliminating Antetokounmpo’s Greek team to reach the semi-finals before losing to Spain in a close game. Denise Schroeder, Franz Wagner When Daniel Theis Everyone played well throughout the tournament. Maxi Kleber When Isaiah Hartenstein Once available for these large global tournaments, we can expect this program to be very useful for future events as well.
