The Olympics keep writing special basketball stories. With the NBA going more and more global over the last few years, it's no secret nor surprise that more foreign players have been deemed good enough to play in the NBA. Last season, in particular, saw foreign players dominate the league. Nikola Jokić of Serbia was crowned regular season MVP, Greek-Nigerian Giannis Antetokounmpo just won the championship and the Finals MVP award, and Slovenian boy wonder Luka Dončić looks to be the new face of the league.
The NBA's globalization can be seen in the big stage of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, wherein every single team boasted either former or current NBA players.
For this piece, we'll be identifying each Olympic Basketball team's best player who has stepped foot on an NBA court. Players will be chosen according to their recent international performances, the bulk of which will be taken from the Olympics. The player must be a part of their country's Olympic team (so no LeBron James for the US, or Ben Simmons for Australia). They would have had to at least be a part of an NBA roster at one point in their careers (so the likes of Nando de Colo and Luis Scola are eligible).
With the technicalities out of the way, let's get into the list.
The best of the Olympics:
Japan – Rui Hachimura
Statistics: 22.3 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2.0 assists
Starting us off is potentially the host nation's greatest-ever basketball player, Rui Hachimura.
After two very good seasons with the Washington Wizards, the 6'8” forward was set to lead his country in the upcoming Tokyo Olympics. With averages of 22.3 points and 6.7 rebounds through 3 Olympic games, the athletic wingman has had a very good showing in the tournament indeed. The Toronto Raptors' Yuta Watanabe provides some strong competition for this spot, with 17.7 points and 8 rebounds per contest.
Japan ultimately failed to get past the group stages, getting felled by Slovenia, Spain, and Argentina on the way to a 0-3 record. Nevertheless, it is just the start of Japan's golden generation, with young guns Hachimura and Watanabe only set to get better while being flanked by quality players like Yudai Baba (formerly of the Dallas Mavericks) and Makoto Hiejima.
Iran – Hamed Haddadi
Statistics: 15.7 points, 9.7 rebounds, 3.3 assists
As the first and only Iranian to play in the NBA, grizzled veteran Hamed Haddadi is his country's only candidate for this list.
That doesn't mean that he wasn't Iran's best player at the tournament, however. The 7'2” center has consistently been his nation's best player every time he dons their colors, even 36 years of age. In these Olympics, he has averaged nearly 16 points and 10 rebounds per contest, leading Iran in both categories.
Unfortunately, like their fellow Asian nation, Iran failed to get any W's in Tokyo, losing to France, the US, and the Czech Republic.
Nigeria – Jordan Nwora
Statistics: 21.0 points, 4.7 rebounds, 0.7 assists
In recent years, there has been a slew of Nigerian-born players to be drafted in the NBA, giving us a wide selection for this entry. The likes of Josh Okogie, Precious Achiuwa, and Chimezie Metu were drafted over the last 3 years. However, it is the 45th overall pick of the previous NBA draft, Jordan Nwora, who takes this entry as his country's best performer.
Nwora, who just became an NBA champion with the Milwaukee Bucks, showed out in the Olympics with 21 points and 4.7 rebounds a game. The guard-forward was his team's best perimeter player and their go-to guy, with him lighting it up from three with 4 makes a game from 8.3 attempts.
Despite the immense production from Nwora, the lone African team in the Olympics failed to win any of their games, losing to Australia, Germany, and Italy. It's still a bright future ahead for the young Nigerian basketball team, who famously beat the USA in a friendly prior to the Olympic games.
Germany – Mo Wagner
With the omission of star guard Dennis Schröder from the Olympics, the Germans were without their current best player. This spot came down, then, to Moritz Wagner of the Orlando Magic and Isaac Bonga of the Washington Wizards. Mo Wagner takes this spot as Germany's third-leading scorer.
The 6'11 big man out of Michigan was a key player for Germany, although he was not their outright star in these Olympics like the previous entries. Mo averaged a solid 11 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 1.3 assists a game on 48.1% from the field.
In reality, no one really stood out in the Deutschland team that competed in the Olympics, with EuroLeague cager Maodo Lo leading them in scoring with just 13.5 points per game. However, they did manage to win a game against Nigeria, with CSKA Moscow's Johannes Voigtmann leading the way for the Germans with 19 points. They came third in their group, losing to Australia and Italy on the way.
Czech Republic – Jan Veselý
Statistics: 14.3 points, 5 rebounds, 3.3 assists
The most familiar name for NBA fans in the Czech Republic ranks should be Tomáš Satoranský of the New Orleans Pelicans. Indeed, he's made some noise internationally, with him scoring the game-winning basket against Canada in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament to send his country to Tokyo.
Come the Olympics, however, it is former Washington Wizard Jan Veselý who showed up more in Tokyo for the Czechs. The 31-year old EuroLeague vet averaged a team-high 14.3 points, 5 rebounds, and 3.3 assists to help his nation place third place in their group. He scored 11 points in their lone win against Iran, with his best game coming in a losing effort against France, with 19 points, 3 rebounds, and 5 assists.
The 7'0” center who was picked ahead of the likes of Klay Thompson, Kawhi Leonard, and Jimmy Butler continuously shows up for his country.
Italy – Nico Mannion
Statistics: 15.0 points, 2.3 rebounds, 5.0 assists
Undoubtedly the most impressive Italian basketball player in these past Olympics is Simone Fontecchio of Baskonia in the EuroLeague. However, he is yet to set in an NBA court. One Italian who has, however, is Nico Mannion of the Golden State Warriors, who showed out in his own right.
Mannion served as Italy's main ball-handler and playmaker, posting up 15 and 5 in the process. He had his best outing against highly-tipped Australia, with a 21-point, 7-assist explosion to keep Gli Azzurri close.
Mannion and company had to compete without the services of Danilo Gallinari; they certainly had their hands full, as they were only able to win one game in Tokyo.
Argentina – Facundo Campazzo
Statistics: 16.0 points, 6.0 assists, 5.7 rebounds
Argentina boasts a great array of talent, but the two main standouts of recent times have always been the dynamic duo of Luis Scola and Facundo Campazzo. Facu has had a more profound impact in this tournament, but Scola would still be an extremely viable candidate for this spot.
The current Denver Nuggets guard averaged 16 points this tournament, second only to Scola, while leading the team in assists with 6. He also came in third for the team in rebounds with 5.7. He showed out early in Tokyo at the Olympics, scoring 21 points with 4 dishes and 6 boards in a losing effort against Slovenia.
Campazzo and Scola's Argentina could unfortunately not replicate anything close to their 2019 FIBA world Cup silver-medal finish in Tokyo. The Argentine unit failed to win any of their games at the Olympics against contenders Slovenia and Spain, with their lone win coming against Japan.
Spain – Ricky Rubio
Statistics: 25.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 6.0 assists
In an aging Spain squad with their Golden generation slowly getting phased out at the Olympics, Ricky Rubio remains the one brilliant constant La Roja colors.
With the highest PPG so far in this list, Ricky Rubio carried the Spanish offense with almost 26 points and 6 assists at the Olympics. He also posted his international career-high of 38 in their quarterfinal bout against the USA. For a guard known primarily for his playmaking and passing, that feat is an absolutely incredible one.
Rubio has been great for the Spanish national team since suiting up for them in 2008, wherein he became the youngest-ever medalist in Olympic basketball history. Even fellow mainstays Rudy Fernandez, Sergio Rodriguez, and brothers Pau and Marc Gasol haven't had quite as much impact over the years. The 2019 FIBA World Cup MVP continues his hot international streak with an All-Star Five selection for this year's Tokyo Olympics.
Slovenia – Luka Dončić
Statistics: 23.8 points, 9.7 rebounds, 9.5 assists
In his first taste of Olympics basketball, what else is Luka Dončić to do but average a near 24-point triple-double?
With arguably the most dominant Olympics so far, stat-wise, The Don showed out once again in Slovenian colors, as he's done since he was 17 years of age. He led his team in scoring and dimes with 23.8 and 9.5 respectively, while coming second in rebounds with 9.7. Luka showed his magic in every game this summer, but his greatest (naturally) came in his very first game in Tokyo, wherein he remarkably put up 48 points and 11 rebounds to get the W against Argentina.
Unfortunately, it would end in heartbreak for Dončić and company, as they lost the semifinal to France courtesy of a Nicolas Batum game-saving block; this crushing loss was the first of Dončić's international career. The second followed swiftly, with Australia beating the Slovenians in the bronze medal game. Nevertheless, the 22-year old Dončić has all the time in the world to bolster his international CV, which already boasts a EuroBasket trophy, as well as an All-Star Five selection in the Tokyo Olympics.
Australia – Patty Mills
Statistics: 26.6 points, 3.5 rebounds, 6.5 assists
There's a reason why the nickname “FIBA Patty” exists.
Patty Mills is famously one of those international players who performs extremely well in international competitions, particularly compared to their NBA performances. The Australian sniper exhibited his international prowess once again in Boomers colors at the Olympics, with averages of almost 27 points and 7 assists to lead his team in both categories. He was great in all of Australia's games, but his best performance in Tokyo came in their bronze-medal outing against Luka Dončić's Slovenia. The 6'0” guard put up 42 huge points and 11 dimes to clinch a third-place berth.
The now-Brooklyn Net was also selected in the tournament's All-Star Five, deservedly so. Despite this, and despite winning their previous bout, Mills and his compatriots lost in the semis against the US after a dismal second half. FIBA Patty will still be on the hunt for his first international championship, as he was not part of the Australian squad that prevailed in the 2017 FIBA Asia Cup.
France – Nando de Colo
Statistics: 15.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, 6.0 assists
The runners-up have a whole host of candidates for this spot: the likes of Evan Fournier (the team's top scorer), Timothé Luwawu-Cabarrot, and Vincent Poirier, among others, are eligible. Rudy Gobert has a particularly strong case as an All-Star Five selection. However, it is Fenerbahçe's Nando de Colo (formerly of the San Antonio Spurs) who has proven to be the most instrumental member of Les Bleus.
The 34-year old veteran led his team in assists with 6 dimes per game, while having to settle for second behind Fournier in scoring. He also came second in rebounds behind Gobert in rebounding. A consistent threat from the perimeter, de Colo showed his best in the semifinal clash against Slovenia, wherein he led all scorers with 25 points to go along with 7 dimes. The heroic performance from de Colo was much-needed, as France barely scraped past the Slovenians by a single point at the Olympics.
Despite winning their group game against the US, the French would go on to lose to the Americans in the finals of the Olympics, 82-87.
USA – Kevin Durant
Statistics: 20.2 points, 4.6 rebounds, 4.0 assists
Even with the greatest NBA scorers on the roster, KD easily takes the spot as the Americans' MVP of the tournament.
Durant, along with his 20.2 points per contest was absolutely crucial for this USA squad. Every time the US would go on cold runs, KD was the only one consistently firing on all cylinders. The Slim Reaper would consistently bail the US out at the Olympics with timely buckets to fuel huge scoring runs for the whole team. Durant's 23 points against Australia and 29 against France in the semis and the Finals respectively were particularly important, as his dominant scoring helped the States get the crucial victories after going from behind.
With the gold medal win in Tokyo, Durant strengthened his case to be the greatest American Basketball Olympian in history, particularly after surpassing Carmelo Anthony's Summer Olympics scoring record. This win in particular has to mean a lot for the Americans, as it re-establishes the US's international dominance after their dismal 7th place finish in the 2019 FIBA World Cup.
It was a well-deserved gold medal and All-Star Five selection for Durant, helping the US extend their Olympic basketball streak to four gold medals in a row.
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