Olympic basketball bracket, explained: How group stage, standings work in 2024 tournament format

Kyle Irving

Olympic basketball bracket, explained: How group stage, standings work in 2024 tournament format image

Basketball at the 2024 Paris Olympics is set to tip off on Saturday, July 27.

Both the men's and women's tournaments will begin on the same day as 12 countries from each side pursue a gold medal.

The United States is favored to win both fields, with superstars like LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and Kevin Durant leading the charge on the men's squad and A'ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart, and Diana Taurasi headlining the women's team.

As Group Stage play gets underway, The Sporting News has you covered with all the details you need to know on how the Olympic basketball tournament format works below.

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Olympic basketball tournament format, explained

For both the men's and women's tournaments, the 2024 Paris Olympics will feature 12 countries broken up into groups of four.

Each team will play the other three countries in their group. The first- and second-place teams in each group and the two best third-place teams will advance to the eight-team knockout round.

A draw will determine the quarterfinal matchups based on seeding. Teams from the same group cannot play each other in the first round of the knockout stage.

Once those matchups are set, it will be a standard single-elimination bracket to win the gold medal.

MORE: LeBron James has made it clear he is still Team USA's No. 1 option

Olympics men's basketball standings

Group A

RankTeamRecordPoint Differential
1.Canada 3-0+20
2.Australia1-2-4
3.Greece1-2-8
4.Spain1-2-8

Group B

RankTeamRecordPoint Differential
1.Germany3-0+47
2.France2-1+2
3.Brazil1-2-7
4.Japan0-3-42

Group C

RankTeamRecordPoint Differential
1. United States3-0+64
2Serbia2-1+26
3.South Sudan1-2-17
4.Puerto Rico0-3-73

2024 Paris Olympics women's basketball standings

Group A

RankTeamRecordPoint Differential
1.Spain3-0+10
2.Serbia2-1+17
3.China1-2-1
4.Puerto Rico0-3-26

Group B

RankTeamRecordPoint Differential
1.France2-1+35
2.Australia2-1-1
3.Nigeria2-11
4.Canada0-3-35

Group C

RankTeamRecordPoint Differential
1.USA3-0+58
2.Germany2-1+6
3.Belgium1-20
4.Japan0-3-64

Olympics men's basketball schedule

  • Group play: July 27-Aug. 3
  • Knockout stage: Aug. 6 and Aug. 8
  • Gold-medal game: Aug. 10
  • Bronze-medal game: Aug. 10

Olympic women's basketball schedule

  • Group play: July 28-Aug. 4
  • Knockout stage: Aug. 7 and Aug. 9
  • Gold-medal game: Aug. 11
  • Bronze-medal game: Aug. 11

Kyle Irving

Kyle Irving Photo

You read that wrong – not Kyrie Irving. From Boston, graduated from the University of New Hampshire. Sixth season as a content producer for NBA.com's Global editions. Covering the NBA Draft has become his annual "dream come true" moment on the job. Irving has a soft spot for pass-first point guards, with Rajon Rondo and Steve Nash being two of his favorite players of all time.