Four vacancies for the Olympic Games: Who will make it?
The battle for the four vacancies in the Olympic Games basketball tournament has begun. A total of 24 teams will participate in the pre-Olympic tournament, which will take place in four venues around the world: Valencia, Piraeus, Riga, and San Juan, Puerto Rico. The tournament will feature two groups of six teams each, with only the champion of each group securing a spot in the Games.
Doncic or Antetokounmpo… or neither?
The headquarters of Piraeus (Greece) will host one of the most demanding groups, featuring Slovenia, Croatia, and New Zealand, as well as Egypt, Dominican Republic, and Greece. This group is dubbed the "death group" due to its strong competition. Giannis Antetokounmpo (Bucks) and Luka Doncic (Mavericks) are both part of this group, but they will have to work hard to secure a spot in the Olympics.
Spain is the favorite… along with the Bahamas
In Valencia, Spain is the favorite to win, led by Lorenzo Brown. The team will face Lebanon and Angola in the first round. The Bahamas, with three NBA players, including DeAndre Ayton (Blazers) and Eric Gordon (Sixers), could cause some problems for Spain.
Domantas Sabonis, the standard bearer of Lithuania
In San Juan, Puerto Rico, Lithuania is the clear favorite, led by Domantas Sabonis (Kings). The team will face Ivory Coast and Mexico in the first round. Lithuania has a strong team and is expected to dominate the competition.
Growing Latvia is on the rise
In Riga, Latvia is the host team and has a slight advantage due to its progress in recent years. The team is led by Davis Bertans (Hornets) and is expected to make a strong showing in the tournament.
The other teams
The other teams in the tournament include Italy, led by Danilo Gallinari (Bucks), and Montenegro, led by Nikola Vucevic (Magic). Georgia, Brazil, and Poland will also participate in the tournament.
The competition is expected to be fierce, and only the strongest teams will make it to the Olympics. The tournament will be a great opportunity for teams to showcase their skills and make a case for why they should be included in the Olympic Games.
