VALENCIA (Jeff Taylor's Eurovision) - This is my prediction. We're going to witness the greatest Olympic basketball tournament of all time.

I'm saying that because Victor Wembanyama is going to play alongside the "The Stifle Tower" (Rudy Gobert), because Germany are going to be a major Obst-acle for any team (remember Andreas Obst's 24 points against the USA at the World Cup?), and because Aleksa Avramovic of Serbia is going to make like La Griffre Grise and sink his claws into the best point guards in the world.

This is going to be the best Olympics because USA are bringing their best. They can't afford not to, not with several national teams having taken a leap in quality in recent years.

Australia are Giddey about their chances! Josh "No look pass"  Giddey averaged 19.4 points, 6.0 assists, and 5.0 rebounds per game at the World Cup for the Boomers. It's why he was the Wanda Rising Star Award winner.

Of all his qualities, Giddey's passing might be the most important for the Boomers

Shai "All-Star Five member at the World Cup" Gilgeous-Alexander has paved the way for Canada, who have reached the Games for the first time since 2000. His World Cup-best 30.4 efficiency per game was astonishing.

Gilgeous-Alexander was breathtakingly good every time out in Jakarta and Manila. It was his world and we just lived in it. And Jamal Murray could join him this summer, he said.

Then there is the Wagner basketball opera.

Will Franz and Mo give their own rendition of Das Rheingold and reach the top of the podium for the second year in a row? It could happen!

The possibilities are tantalizing. They are endless.

Imagine the Joker on the Olympic stage again for Serbia. Nikola Jokic made it to the Final in 2016 and that was before he was two-time NBA MVP Jokic!

What if Luka Doncic leads Slovenia back to the Games with a win at the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Piraeus? And if he doesn't, what if Giannis Antetokounmpo fires host Greece to OQT glory instead and then spearheads the country's bid for gold?

Like Stephen Curry, who will play for the USA at the Games for the first time, Antetokounmpo has yet to grace the Olympic stage.

Imagine if Antetokounmpo makes his Olympic bow?! 🤩

I can't think of anything that's going to be better than watching the Men's Olympic Basketball Tournament Paris.

Jeff Taylor
FIBA

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