If you’re an NBA fan, the reasons to watch the 2016 Olympics go well beyond the U.S. Men’s National Team.
In fact, the 12 men with USA on their chest will represent about a quarter of the NBA players in Rio. In total, there will be as many as 47 NBA players, representing 11 of the 12 countries and 24 of 30 NBA teams, at the Olympics.
Most of the non-American NBA players are in Group B. So fans of the Knicks, Pistons, Sixers and Thunder will have to hope for a medal-round matchup if they want to see their incoming rookies against the U.S. stars. Mavs rookie Michael Gbinije (Nigeria) will face the U.S. in an exhibition game in Houston next Monday.
Final rosters aren’t due yet, so there could be some changes to the list. Brooklyn’s Greivis Vasquez has missed several exhibition games for Venezuela, who will face the U.S. in Chicago on Friday. Portland’s Festus Ezeli is on Nigeria’s preliminary roster, but hasn’t been with the team as they’ve been preparing for Rio, so he’s not included on the list above.
Twelve NBA teams will have multiple players in Rio —
Brooklyn (3): Bojan Bogdanovic, Luis Scola and (maybe) Greivis Vasquez
Chicago (3): Jimmy Butler, Jose Calderon and Nikola Mirotic
Dallas (3): Harrison Barnes, Andrew Bogut and Nicolas Brussino
Denver (2): Nikola Jokic and Joffrey Lauvergne
Detroit (2): Aron Baynes and Michael Gbinije
Golden State (4): Kevin Durant, Draymond Green, Klay Thompson and Anderson Varejao
New York (3): Carmelo Anthony, Willy Hernangomez and Mindaugas Kuzminskas
Oklahoma City (2): Domantas Sabonis and Alex Abrines
Philadelphia (2): Sergio Rodriguez and Dario Saric
San Antonio (4): Pau Gasol, Manu Ginobili, Patty Mills and Tony Parker
Toronto (3): DeMar DeRozan, Kyle Lowry and Jonas Valanciunas
Utah (4): Boris Diaw, Rudy Gobert, Joe Ingles and Raul Neto
The only country without an NBA player is China, but it has former player Yi Jianlian, as well as two guys who were drafted in the second round this year. The Olympic rosters include seven players whose draft rights are held by NBA teams.
With the Grizzlies holding the draft rights of Wang Zhelin, only five NBA teams – Atlanta, Boston, Miami, New Orleans and Washington – aren’t involved in the Olympics (via players under contract or players they hold the draft rights to) at all.
Pool play in Rio begins Saturday, Aug. 6. Group A will play on even numbered days from Aug. 6-14, while Group B will play on odd numbered days from Aug. 7-15. Four teams from each group will qualify for the medal rounds, which begin Aug. 17 and conclude with the gold medal game on Sunday, Aug. 21.
The United States has won the last two Olympic gold medals and will carry a 45-game winning streak in official FIBA competition into this year’s tournament.
