The basketball competition at the 2024 Paris Olympics has proven to be a thrilling spectacle, with eight teams advancing to the quarterfinals. Among the standout stories is South Sudan's historic first win in the Olympic tournament, a testament to the nation’s growth in the sport. Meanwhile, Japan, despite a valiant push against France that led to an overtime showdown, failed to secure any wins during the group stage.
Brazil's Long-Awaited Return
Brazil has made a significant comeback, advancing to the Olympic quarterfinals for the first time since 2012. A key player in Brazil’s success has been Bruno Caboclo, who delivered a phenomenal performance against Japan, scoring 33 points and grabbing 17 rebounds. Throughout the tournament, Caboclo has averaged 13 points and 7.3 rebounds per game, with an impressive 55% shooting accuracy from the field.
Greece's Struggles and Australia's Ups and Downs
Greece faced a tough start, losing its first two matches against formidable opponents Canada and Spain. Giannis Antetokounmpo made notable contributions in a game against Australia, scoring 20 points with seven rebounds and six assists. His teammate, Thomas Walkup, also played a pivotal role by adding 18 points. Australia, on the other hand, managed only one win in the group stage, despite Jock Landale averaging strong numbers with 17.7 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game.
France's Rollercoaster Group Stage
France had a mixed performance in the group stage. Though they barely escaped an upset by Japan, they faced a significant setback against Germany, losing after trailing by 24 points. Victor Wembanyama has been a consistent performer for France, averaging 17 points, 10.7 rebounds, and three assists per game.
Germany's Dominance
Germany has been one of the standout teams, finishing the group stage undefeated. Franz Wagner has been a scoring machine, averaging 21.7 points per game. Dennis Schroder has also made notable contributions with an average of 19.7 points per game, establishing Germany as a force to be reckoned with in the tournament.
Serbia's Strong Showing Despite Setback
Serbia encountered a hurdle during the group stage, losing to Team USA. Despite this, Bogdan Bogdanovic has been a consistent performer, averaging 19 points per game with an impressive shooting accuracy of 54% from the field and 53% from beyond the arc.
Canada's Victories and Team USA's Dominance
Canada secured victories against Greece and Australia, with RJ Barrett leading the charge by averaging 21 points per game. Meanwhile, Team USA has displayed dominance, winning their initial three matches with an average victory margin of 21.3 points. Anthony Edwards has been a key player, averaging 16.7 points per game.
As the tournament progresses into the quarterfinals, the competition is expected to intensify with these diverse and powerful teams striving for the ultimate prize. Each team’s journey has been marked by compelling narratives and standout performances, promising a continuation of high-stakes excitement in the coming matches.