Though the competition was tougher than ever, Team USA was victorious again at the 2024 Paris Olympics, winning their fifth consecutive gold medal in men’s basketball and their eighth consecutive gold medal in women’s basketball.
While each player contributed to Team USA’s success, it’s still interesting to see which players stood out in particular. Honorable mentions include Anthony Davis, Jackie Young, Anthony Edwards, Chelsea Gray, and Joel Embiid.
Without further ado, here are the top five US basketball players competing in the 2024 Paris Olympics.
5. Devin Booker
To be honest, this was the hardest spot on the list to fill. There were two players on the list: Kevin Durant and Devin Booker. Durant proved to be a reliable scorer, setting the record for most points scored by a basketball player at the Olympics. Booker, on the other hand, was the backbone of the team, functioning as an all-around player and stepping up when the U.S. needed him.
What gave Booker a slight lead over Durant was a recent comment by head coach Steve Kerr, who called the Phoenix Suns guard the “unsung MVP” of the U.S. team. He came into the team and played a key role, but it’s hard to imagine the U.S. winning the gold medal without him.
4. Steph Curry
Legendary pitcher Steph Curry had a quiet start to the Olympics, averaging 7.25 points in his first four games. But things changed in the USA’s final two games. Overall, Curry scored 60 points, sank 17 of 26 three-pointers, and was the men’s basketball points leader with an average of 14.8 points per game.
Just when it seemed like Serbia was going to beat the USA, Curry overcame a 13-point deficit. Curry nailed a perfect three-pointer to close out the sack in the final against France. Ultimately, the Golden State Warriors star did more than earn a spot in the FIBA All-Star Five and her first Olympic gold medal.
3. Breanna Stewart
Breanna Stewart had a stellar Olympic season, managing two games of over 20 points early on in Team USA’s gold medal journey. She was able to maintain this excellence, averaging 16.3 points per game, the second-highest scoring total on the team.
Stewart also averaged 20.3 efficiency points and 5.3 rebounds per game, second and third best on Team USA. Her defensive presence was also felt, averaging 1.7 blocks and 0.8 steals per game. This was enough to earn her a spot in the FIBA All-Star 5 along with the others on this list.
2. LeBron James
It’s no exaggeration to say that LeBron James was a monster at the Olympics. Not only did he lead the team in assists (8.5) and rebounds (6.8) per game, but he also averaged 14.2 points per game, second only to Curry as the U.S. men’s basketball points leader.
All of this earned James a team-best average efficiency rating of 23.5. He also became the first U.S. player to record two triple-doubles at the Olympics. It’s no wonder he was named the Olympic Most Valuable Player by FIBA. But there are players who performed better than King James at the Olympics.
1. A’ja Wilson
A’ja Wilson has once again proven that she is a dominant presence in women’s basketball. An NCAA champion, two-time WNBA champion, and two-time FIBA World Champion, she can now add two-time Olympic gold medalist to that list.
During her Olympic years, Wilson averaged 18.7 points, 10.2 rebounds, 2.7 blocks and an efficiency rating of 27.5 per game. These are the highest averages not only of any U.S. women’s basketball player, but of Team USA as a whole. For this reason, there was no choice but to name her the Olympic MVP and put her at the top of this list.