The group stage of the 2024 Olympics men's basketball tournament is complete, and eight teams have advanced to the knockout round. Sudden-death games begin on Tuesday, and the Gold medal game will be played on Sunday.
Team USA is the overwhelming favorite to win it all, thanks to their 3-0 record in group play and tournament-best +64 point differential. But anything can happen in this type of format. Here are the best teams remaining.
Olympics men's basketball quarterfinals power rankings
1. USA
Team USA has been dominant, and it's easy to see why when looking at their roster. LeBron James is still one of the best basketball players in the world, Kevin Durant is a proven Olympic performer, and their roster is so deep that stars like Jayson Tatum, Joel Embiid, and Tyrese Haliburton have had trouble finding minutes.
Making things even more scary for the rest of the world is the fact that Team USA hasn't even clicked on all gears yet. Steph Curry has yet to go off — he's shooting just 26.3 percent from 3 and 32.0 percent from the field. Curry is too good of a shooter to stay in that type of slump for long. When he finds his rhythm, he will add an even tougher option to have to worry about.
2. Canada
Canada played in the toughest group of this tournament. That didn't matter much — they went undefeated, beating good teams in Greece, Australia, and Spain.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been a true star in international play. His 19.0 points per game ranks seventh in the Olympics, and he's hit on an excellent 58.1 percent of his shots.
Jamal Murray was supposed to be the other half of that dynamic backcourt. He's been mired in a terrible slump, hitting just 10 percent of his 3's.
Canada has still looked like the second-best team in this tournament though thanks to outstanding play from RJ Barrett, Dillon Brooks, Lu Dort, Andrew Nembhard, and others. They're stacked with good NBA players, but their one Achilles heel may be a lack of high-end big men.
MORE: Olympic basketball bracket: Updated schedule, results for 2024 men's knockout games
3. Germany
Germany was the third undefeated team in the group stage, which shouldn't come as much of a surprise given their victory in last summer's FIBA World Cup.
Dennis Schroder was arguably the best player in that tournament. He's continued to be terrific in international play. The speedy point guard is averaging 19.7 points and 9.0 assists, wreaking havoc with his drives and his 40.9 percent shooting from deep.
Germany is far from a one-man team, though. Franz Wagner has come through with some big games. Daniel Theis, Isaac Bonga, and Johannes Voigtmann give the team great size. The Germans have great continuity and play better than the sum of their parts.
4. Serbia
Nikola Jokic has been his usual reliable self, averaging 18.7 points, 11.0 rebounds, and 7.0 assists in leading Serbia to a 2-1 record thus far.
It has been his teammate, Hawks guard Bogdan Bogdanovic, who has led Serbia in scoring, though. Bogdanovic's 19.0 points per game have come off a flurry of 3-point shooting, where he's hitting 52.9 percent of his looks, along with getting great drives to the basket.
The rest of Serbia's roster has been up and down. Vasilije Micic is one of the best passers in the world and Nikola Jovic is a promising young big man for the Heat. Serbia is always dangerous with Jokic but doesn't have the depth of some of the teams above it.
MORE: Team USA found its answer for Nikola Jokic — and it's not Joel Embiid
5. France
The expectation for France was that they would be one of the best teams in the Olympics. That hasn't proven true through the nation's first three games. They barely advanced to the knockout stage, needing a 94-90 overtime victory over Japan in order to qualify.
Victor Wembanyama is one of the best players in the world. He has led France with 17.0 points per game and is shooting 52.4 percent from the field. He's been criticized by his coach, though, for stopping the ball too much. The fit with fellow center Rudy Gobert has been awkward at times, but their defense has been strong.
France's biggest issue has been with their backcourt. Evan Fournier has been ineffective, and the team's aging guards haven't offered much help.
6. Australia
Josh Giddey has been Australia's best player thus far. The new Bull is averaging 15.0 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 6.7 assists per game. He's never been a great 3-point shooter in the NBA, but he's hit 42.9 percent of his 3's this summer.
Alongside Giddey are veterans Patty Mills and Jock Landale. Dyson Daniels has also shot the ball well and provided stellar defense.
Australia barely skated into the knockout round, going just 1-2 in group play but qualifying based on point differential after Canada defeated Spain.
7. Greece
Giannis Antetokounmpo has been the best player of the summer. His 27.0 points per game is by far the most of anyone, and he's connecting on a ridiculous 68.9 percent of his shots to get there.
Greece was only 1-2 in the group phase despite Giannis' dominance, losing to Canada and Spain but beating Australia. Vasilis Toliopoulos is the team's second-leading scorer at 13.0 points per game, and no one else is averaging double-figures.
Greece scores the fewest points per game of any of these remaining teams. They may not have the firepower to make it to the medal round.
8. Brazil
Brazil has the toughest test of any of these teams, facing off against Team USA in the quarterfinals. They do have some talent, led by former NBA player Bruno Caboclo. Long-time veteran NBA guard Raul Neto and Marcelinho Huertas have high feel, and Gui Santos played well in small spurts for the Warriors last season. But they are at a severe talent disadvantage. It will take a miracle to advance to the semis.
