Men’s Olympic Basketball Predictions & Picks for Paris 2024 Olympics

Men’s Olympic Basketball Predictions & Picks for Paris 2024 Olympics

July 24, 2024

We’ve finally arrived on the doorstep of the 2024 Paris Olympics, and it shouldn’t surprise anyone to see which team leads the latest Men’s Olympic basketball odds across our best sports betting sites.

Team USA is the overwhelming favorite (-500) to win this summer’s tournament, which officially begins Friday and lasts through the gold medal game on Saturday, Aug. 10. The Americans are prominently featured in our men’s Olympic basketball predictions and picks, including a long-shot bet to win tournament MVP.

Who is predicted to win the Men’s Olympic Basketball Tournament?

(Men’s Olympic basketball odds from our best sports betting apps as of July 24)

Country Odds Implied probability
USA -500 83.33%
Canada +1100 8.33%
France +1200 7.69%
Serbia +1600 5.88%
Greece +2000 4.76%
Germany +3000 3.23%
Australia +4000 2.44%
Spain +5000 1.96%
Brazil +10000 0.99%
South Sudan +25000 0.40%
Puerto Rico +30000 0.33%
Japan +50000 0.20%

Team USA has been the overwhelming favorite to win the men’s basketball tournament in Paris 2024 since before the American roster was even announced.

Those odds have only shortened over time, even with a pair of close finishes in exhibition play, while Canada has emerged as the narrow second choice ahead of tournament host France. Don’t forget about Serbia, which features the best player in the world and a wealth of international experience.

Best bet: Canada to medal (-113)

Look, if I had to pick one team to win it all, it’s obviously Team USA. But I’m awfully intrigued by the long odds on Canada (+1100) to give its southern neighbo(u)r a run for its money in this tournament.

I’m even more compelled by this wager on the Canadians to medal in this tournament for the first time since 1936. With Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jamal Murray leading a roster chock-full of NBA talent, this group poses issues for any non-American team on the perimeter and should find its way onto the podium.


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Men’s Olympic basketball expert picks

Prediction: France to win Group B (-188)

You have to lay a few extra bucks on this wager, which requires a bet of $18.80 to win $10 with a 65.28% implied probability. But I’m bullish on the tournament hosts making a statement early in this tournament.

It starts on the defensive end with Rudy Gobert and Victor Wembanyama patrolling the paint, an even scarier proposition with the benefit of international rules. Wemby has already evolved into a premier scorer and is primed for the best two weeks of his basketball career.

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Embed content IZSRPbWYeec image

The only real threat in this group is Germany, whose two best players – Dennis Schroder and Franz Wagner – couldn’t hit a shot over the final month of the NBA season. With home-court advantage on its side, expect France to roll to victory in the group stage.

Prediction: LeBron James to lead Team USA in assists (+180)

While James is the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, he’s always been a playmaker at heart. And he’s surrounded by the best collection of talent we’ve ever seen.

The King paced Team USA in assists (3.6 APG) in five exhibition games, and he should have the ball in his hands as much as anyone on the roster in what will likely be his final Olympics. I’d expect Stephen Curry to be much more involved off the ball, providing James with every opportunity to stuff the stat sheet.

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Embed content 7KMNQX1koTE image

Prediction: Anthony Davis to win tournament MVP (+1000)

This is the biggest dart throw of my best bets, but I’m surprised to see The Brow catching such long odds to win MVP of this summer’s tournament.

Yes, he’s technically a reserve behind Joel Embiid, but Davis averaged more exhibition minutes (17.6) than Embiid (16.6) and is a better fit with Team USA’s crunch-time lineup. His smooth offensive game and elite defensive prowess are a perfect fit for international play, which was on full display in exhibition games.

Davis is as short as +790 to lead the U.S. in scoring and favored to pace his team in rebounds and blocks, and he’s as short as +600 to win MVP. That makes these +1000 odds – which carry a 9.09% implied probability – that much sweeter.

Past Olympic basketball results, medal history

Olympics Gold medal Silver medal Bronze medal
Tokyo 2020 USA France Australia
Rio 2016 USA Serbia Spain
London 2012 USA Spain Russia
Beijing 2008 USA Spain Argentina
Athens 2004 Argentina Italy USA
Sydney 2000 USA France Lithuania
Atlanta 1996 USA Yugoslavia Lithuania
Barcelona 1992 USA Croatia Lithuania
Seoul 1988 Soviet Union Yugoslavia USA
Los Angeles 1984 USA Spain Yugoslavia
Moscow 1980 Yugoslavia Italy Soviet Union
Montreal 1976 USA Yugoslavia Soviet Union
Munich 1972 Soviet Union USA Cuba
Mexico 1968 USA Yugoslavia Soviet Union
Tokyo 1964 USA Soviet Union Brazil
Rome 1960 USA Soviet Union Brazil
Melbourne 1956 USA Soviet Union Uruguay
Helsinki 1952 USA Soviet Union Uruguay
London 1948 USA France Brazil
Berlin 1936 USA Canada Mexico

Men’s Olympic Basketball Tournament FAQs

Who won the Men’s Olympic Basketball Tournament last time?

Team USA took home the gold medal in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, beating France in an 87-82 final. That win secured the fourth straight gold medal and seventh in the last eight Olympic Games for the Americans, who have won a record 16 gold medals across 20 men’s basketball tournaments.

Who is predicted to win the Men’s Olympic Basketball Tournament?

Team USA is the favorite to win the Men’s Olympic Basketball Tournament in Paris, France, with odds as short as -650 across our best sportsbooks. Those odds represent an 86.67% chance that the U.S. will repeat as gold medalists.

When is the last time Team USA lost in the Olympics?

While the Americans lost one game in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, they’ve still captured the gold medal in fourth straight Olympic Games and seven of the last eight. The lone exception came at Athens 2004, when the U.S. settled for the bronze medal.

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