Subscribe
Follow Us
With the NBA Finals recently concluding, it’s now time for international basketball as the Olympics draws near. The Olympics is one of the most prestigious tournaments for basketball. It only involves the best countries around the world, as these teams compete for an elusive medal finish.
Throughout history, we’ve seen NBA stars suit up for their national teams. Unfortunately despite the Olympics happening in the offseason, some NBA players choose not to suit up for their national teams for various reasons. Although this is understandable given that their bodies need rest after a grueling season, it is a missed opportunity for them to cement their greatness.
Giannis Antetokounmpo
It is unfortunate we won’t be seeing the newly crowned champion and Finals MVP in the Olympics and that wasn’t his decision to make. Greece, despite being the only national team to defeat Team USA under Mike Krzyzewski, hasn’t qualified for the Olympic Games since 2008.
The addition of Giannis would’ve spiced up the Tokyo showpiece. In fact, he even wanted to represent Greece this summer.
According to his agent, Giorgos Panou said “His goal is to be at Tokyo. Whenever he can be available and healthy, he will play for the National Team.”
Giannis is no stranger to international basketball. He suited up for Greece in various international competitions including the last two editions of the FIBA World Cup. Giannis’ last stint with Greece saw him average 14.8 points and 8.8 rebounds per game. Furthermore, Giannis has never hid his desire to one day take down Team USA and regain basketball glory for Greece.
In 2017 Giannis told ESPN, “I’ll be the next one to beat them. I’ll be waiting for them somewhere.”
But unfortunately, his return to the national team will have to wait. Greece failed to qualify for the Olympics after they were blown out by Czech Republic, 97-72 in the FIBA OQT. Giannis and his elder brother Thanasis didn’t suit up, as they were still playing in the playoffs, which coincided with the qualifying tourney.
Joel Embiid
Another star that has yet to suit up in the Olympics is Joel Embiid. The Sixers big man is one of the premier big men in the NBA. With his versatility and dominance in the post, Embiid will no doubt thrive in international tournaments such as the Olympics.
Embiid has been part of the player pools that compose the Cameroon National Team. But unfortunately, he has yet to accept their invitation to play for them in any tournament. In addition to this, Cameroon has yet to make an Olympic appearance as they’ve never materialized their wish of having Joel Embiid play alongside fellow NBA player Pascal Siakam.
Cameroon isn’t a fixture in the Olympics. However, Embiid did get an invitation to play for the French National Team. The French NT has been a fixture in the Olympic Games. They’ve also claimed the Bronze medal for the past two World Cups.
Although Embiid denied the initial invitation by Nicolas Batum, he changed his mind later on.
In an interview, Embiid responded “I think it’s an opportunity. You never know. I might play for the French national team but I might also play for Cameroon. I have a lot of relatives in France.”
With Embiid yet to suit up for Cameroon, he could’ve been eligible to play for the Les Bleus as their naturalized player. But unfortunately for him, former Spurs star Tony Parker disagreed with the idea and so did French mainstay Evan Fournier.
Arretons avec les articles sur Joel en Edf svp ca en devient ridicule serieux
— Evan Fournier (@EvanFourmizz) January 15, 2018
But nevertheless, not having Embiid in the Olympic picture is an opportunity missed.
Ben Simmons
Article Continues Below
Another Sixers star that has yet to play in the Olympics is Ben Simmons. Hailing from Australia, Simmons is arguably the best NBA player from that country today. However despite publicly committing to play for Australia in the Olympics, he has yet to suit up for the Boomers in the world stage. The Sixers guard first skipped the 2016 Rio Games to prepare for his rookie season and will now skip the 2020 Tokyo Games after a rough postseason.
🚨 Ben Simmons has informed Basketball Australia that he won't be joining the Boomers at their training camp in the U.S.A, ruling him out of selection for the Tokyo Olympics.
READ: https://t.co/VGRJqNzVgm pic.twitter.com/gFl82qGDg1
— Basketball Australia (@BasketballAus) June 28, 2021
In the Eastern Conference Semifinals, Simmons made history as the worst free-throw shooter in the postseason.
Lowest FT% in a single playoffs in NBA history (min 70 attempts):
34.2 — Ben Simmons in 2021
37.4 — Shaquille O’Neal in 2006
38.0 — Wilt Chamberlain in 1968Elite company. pic.twitter.com/s14R8cCSKm
— StatMuse (@statmuse) June 21, 2021
Barring his free-throw woes, Simmons would’ve been an intriguing addition to the Boomers’ hopes of finishing at the podium in the world stage. His size combined with his all-around game would’ve given the Boomers its missing piece.
But unfortunately, the three time All-Star will be focusing on improving his personal game. Because of this, it might be a missed opportunity for Simmons to actually win the coveted gold for Australia. Although Australia can still dominate international basketball, especially after defeating Team USA 91-83, most of their core NBA players are well past 30. This includes Matthew Dellavedova, Aaron Baynes, Joe Ingles, and Patty Mills. Sadly, these players might be past their best basketball forms, once Simmons decides to play in the next edition of the Olympics.
Kawhi Leonard
USA has dominated international basketball for a good number of decades. However, we all witnessed how that was threatened when they finished seventh in the 2019 FIBA World Cup. In order to help their cause, there's no doubt Kawhi Leonard would’ve been an great addition to Team USA.
With his defense and scoring, Kawhi could've added more star power to a team that is out for redemption. Furthermore with Gregg Popovich taking the reigns of the team, Kawhi’s familiarity with his system would’ve been a boost.
But although Kawhi has participated in Team USA practices and played for the select team, he has never played for the national team internationally. He missed out on the 2012 roster headed for the London Olympics. And in 2016, Kawhi made his withdrawal from the team heading to Rio. Earlier this year, however, Kawhi made his intentions known to participate in the Tokyo Games.
According to NBC Sports, Kawhi mentioned “Right now, my plan is to go.”
But unfortunately, Leonard’s Olympic debut will have to wait. The Clippers star sustained a knee injury in the second round of the playoffs against the Jazz. He underwent surgery to repair his torn ACL, which will force him to miss the summer games.
Kawhi Leonard had surgery to repair a partially torn right ACL.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 14, 2021
Stephen Curry
Another player that surprisingly hasn’t played in the Olympics is Stephen Curry. Although he has won two gold medals with Team USA, the Warriors star has yet to play in the summer games. Because of this, he is arguably the best player to never play in the Olympics.
Hopes of him playing in the Olympics started to kindle after Curry expressed his desire to play after Team USA posted a disappointing seventh place finish in the World Cup.
In an interview with Rachel Nichols, Curry said “Definitely wanna go. I’ve never been on the Olympic team. I’ve been on two World Cup Championship gold medal teams. But the Olympics is the experience that I want. And next year will hopefully be it.”
But fast forward to today, Curry will not be making the trip to Tokyo. The Warriors star has reportedly withdrew from the national team.
Warriors star Stephen Curry has opted against playing for Team USA in the Tokyo Olympics this summer, sources tell me and @anthonyVslater. Curry had been deciding on participating over the last few weeks, and USAB expected him to be out of the available pool.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 21, 2021
Curry would’ve been a huge addition for Team USA, who are out to win their fourth consecutive Olympic Gold. With the three point line closer to the basket in FIBA competitions, who knows how much more threes Curry would drain. In the 2010 FIBA World Cup, Curry knocked down 36.8% of his threes. And in 2014, he made 43.8%. However, those were before his MVP days. Imagine how deadly Curry will be in the international arena now that he has three NBA championships and two MVPs under his belt.
