The U.S. men aren't the favorite you might think they are.
The 2024 Paris Olympics basketball field is officially set, with Brazil, Puerto Rico, Spain and Greece emotionally clinching the final men’s spots Sunday.
Now, we can turn our attention to odds for the big dance, and unsurprisingly, it’s Team USA favored to win on both the men’s and women’s side.
However, while the women remain the same overwhelming favorites they were for the Tokyo Olympics three years ago, with -1400 odds at BetMGM, the U.S. men are more modest favorites at -400. The smaller gap between them and No. 2 Canada at +900 reveals just how much the rest of the world has caught up on the men’s side.
Buckle up world.
The basketball is going to be HOT in Paris this summer!
#FIBAOQT x #Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/mx0D62yLge
— FIBA (@FIBA) July 8, 2024
Much like the women, USA’s men’s odds aren’t dissimilar to where they opened in Tokyo either, but that’s also part of the problem. The 2021 gold medal team had room for names like Jerami Grant, Keldon Johnson and JaVale McGee.
But after Team USA failed to medal in last year’s FIBA World Cup, they recruited a team of heavy-hitters for this summe, enlisting stars like LeBron James, Stephen Curry and Joel Embiid. The worst player on the team might be between Bam Adebayo and Tyrese Haliburton. And yet, they aren’t bigger favorites. As we saw with France’s takeover of the NBA Draft last month, the world is coming.
As for the women, there doesn’t appear to be much to worry about — even with Caitlin Clark left off the squad. No other team has odds shorter than 20-1.
