The quarterfinals of the men's basketball tournament at the 2024 Paris Olympics are set, with eight teams advancing to compete for the prestigious gold medal. Among the teams making headlines is South Sudan, which celebrated its historic first win in the Olympic tournament.
Despite their efforts, Japan failed to win any matches in the group stage, although they pushed France to overtime, showcasing their tenacity. France, however, had a mixed showing, narrowly escaping an upset by Japan and then suffering a significant loss to Germany after trailing by 24 points. The French team saw solid performances from Victor Wembanyama, who averaged 17 points, 10.7 rebounds, and three assists per game.
For Germany, the group stage was a complete success as they finished undefeated. Key players Franz Wagner and Dennis Schroder were instrumental, averaging 21.7 and 19.7 points per game respectively. Their dominance in the early rounds sets them as strong contenders moving forward.
Brazil Makes a Return
Brazil’s return to the quarterfinals for the first time since 2012 was celebrated widely, thanks in part to the heroics of Bruno Caboclo. Caboclo's outstanding performance against Japan, where he scored 33 points and pulled down 17 rebounds, was a highlight. Over the course of the tournament, he has averaged 13 points and 7.3 rebounds per game, shooting an impressive 55% from the field.
Giannis Shines Despite Greek Struggles
Greece had a challenging group stage, starting with losses to both Canada and Spain. Despite these setbacks, Giannis Antetokounmpo delivered a noteworthy performance against Australia, scoring 20 points, grabbing seven rebounds, and dishing out six assists. Thomas Walkup also contributed significantly with 18 points in the same game. Unfortunately, Australia, like Japan, only managed one win in the group stage despite Jock Landale's strong averages of 17.7 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game.
Canada Shows Promise
Canada, on the other hand, secured victories over both Greece and Australia, driven by standout performances from RJ Barrett, who averaged 21 points per game. The Canadians have shown they can compete with the best, and their momentum could make them a dangerous team in the quarterfinals.
Team USA reasserted their dominance with convincing wins in their first three matches, winning with an average margin of 21.3 points. Anthony Edwards has been a reliable contributor, averaging 16.7 points per game. Their only blemish was a group stage loss to Serbia, where Serbia's Bogdan Bogdanovic shined. Bogdanovic has been a stalwart for the Serbian team, averaging 19 points per game while shooting an impressive 54% from the field and 53% from beyond the arc.
As the tournament progresses to the high-stakes quarterfinals, the stage is set for what promises to be a series of exciting and tightly contested games. Each team has demonstrated shining moments and standout individual performances, but only one can take home the ultimate prize. Basketball fans around the world eagerly await the next chapter of Olympic basketball drama.