LeBron James was the best player on the US team – and it wasn’t close
James led Team USA in rebounds (6.8), assists (8.5) and was second in scoring (14.2), so there isn’t really a debate about who was the best. most impactful player to the United States. The player who will soon turn 40 won his third Olympic gold medal and embraced the “Captain America” narrative, mixing it all up, even scoring his second triple-double of his Olympic career against Serbia in the semifinals.
After playing 71 games last season, fantasy basketball managers will have to decide whether an extended offseason of competitive play will result in some load management next season. However, one thing is certain: he still did it, and with a third-round draft grade, it’s hard to fade the seemingly ageless legend.
Victor Wembanyama should be one of the first two choices next season
Whether you want to pick Nikola Jokić or Wemby, you can’t go wrong with the 1.01 selection. However, where Jokić offers consistency, Wemby have the advantage. Wemby led France to silver by averaging the most points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks during the Paris Olympics.
Yes, he led them in almost every statistic available. That’s the kind of dominance Jokić and Giannis have.
It may seem early and quite exaggerated, but Wemby is already displaying the talent of a player in the world’s top 10.
Jamal Murray looks, ugh…cooked?
Fantasy managers have become accustomed to selecting Murray mid-draft, but injuries could be taking their toll on the 27-year-old. He averaged six points per game for Team Canada, shooting 41% from the field and 14% from 3. He came off the bench, which was unusual considering his stature in the league, but didn’t practice much before heading straight to the group stage of clashes.
In my opinion, he was still finding his feet on a team where he wasn’t getting many reps because of nagging injuries, so I’m not going to overreact as if he was incapable of returning to form. Although it would be reasonable to at least monitor his preseason appearance before pressing the draft button.
Stephen Curry is still worthy of a first round pick
Chef Curry saved his best starters for Team USA’s final two games. It was as if Curry had been waiting his entire life to play the hero in the moments when his team needed him most – not a strange scenario for the four-time champion and former Finals MVP.
Against Serbia in the semifinals, Curry outscored Team USA with 20 first-half points and helped them overcome a 15-point deficit in historic fashion. He finished the game with 36 points and nine 3s. But his late-game 3-point barrage against France in the gold medal game proved why he remains one of the league’s most prolific scorers at age 36. He finished the game with 24 points and eight more 3s, knocking down four in the final two minutes of the fourth quarter to help Team USA win the gold medal.
We can also hang this in the Louvre:
I saw Curry go in the second round of early mock drafts, but the Warriors’ offseason moves didn’t do much to devalue Curry. There will be off nights – as NBA teams, just like in the Olympics, will focus their defense on phasing out Curry. But if there’s one person who can get out of a crisis, it’s number 30.
He’ll flirt with a 27-5-5 line with 1.5 steals, and as a category winner for 3s and free throw percentages, he’s a veteran worth buying once again.
Joel Embiid is who he is
Embiid is one of the most talented and frustrating players to watch play basketball. Sometimes he’s the best in the game, and other times you’re left wondering how this man is still standing. While his average and above-the-range 3s were okay during his time in France, I can only remember a few notable plays on defense and his uninspiring effort on the glass with minimal turnovers.
Perhaps playing outside the basket was by design, as he was coming off an injury-plagued postseason. Still, he poses the most significant injury risk with a first-round grade this season, so it will be extremely important for Embiid to enter training camp healthy and in better shape than we witnessed at the Paris Olympics.
But I’m not very confident – he’s super talented. Still, the combination of his sometimes reckless play and extremely high usage (and extra pounds) is a recipe for another dominant but likely abbreviated season.
Diana Taurasi is the most decorated basketball Olympian of all time.
Six. I mean, SIX gold medals? I don’t think anyone will get over this. She won her first in 2004, so seeing her capture another in what appears to be her last, 20 years later, is one of the best stories from the Paris Olympics. Who cares if she averaged 0.7 points per game in this one? Her leadership and the mark she left on the game deserved her place on the squad.
Franz Wagner is just scratching the surface
Wagner has improved in each of his first three seasons in the league and, as Germany’s main option this summer, he has not disappointed. He had a bad game against Serbia, but other than that Wagner worked. He averaged nearly 19 points with six rebounds and three assists in Paris, and while he projects as a fifth-round player in most leagues, I think he could become a top-45 player next season.
Josh Giddey’s fantasy redemption is underway
One of the best players in the Summer Games, Giddey looked like the player he was a few years ago. He averaged 18/8/6 with 50/47/54 shooting splits. For now, I’m going to rule out free throw shooting because it’s more about its high usage and stat padding.
He’s on track for a significant role with the Chicago Bulls next season and the Olympics offered a solid look at what fantasy managers can expect from him when he plays 30 minutes a night. He’s never finished among the top 100 players, but buy the dip because he’ll be one this year.
Bilal Coulibaly still intrigues me
Coulibaly made my list of players to watch at the Olympics because he played well enough in exhibitions to see meaningful minutes for France. He played sparingly during the group stage, but didn’t show enough in a few minutes for me to believe in growth from him this summer.
Getting zero burns in the semifinals could have been a huge blow to his ego, but he stayed ready, playing 21 minutes against Team USA in the gold medal game. He played with a lot of energy off the bench and played exceptionally good defense against Curry and Devin Booker. He finished the game with six points (3-5 FG) off a board and a block, so while it wasn’t as stellar, the experience helped him mature as a player heading into his second NBA season.
His jumper looks better, but I’ll be paying close attention in training camp to see how he improves other areas of his game this summer.
Dennis Schroder Can Sneak a Sleep at the End of Drafts
I’m one of the guys that has Cam Thomas’ potential as a breakout, but with Mikal Bridges lost and there isn’t much left offensively, Schroder could be a player that emerges as a decent late draft pick. He has been a consistent performer for the German national team in the past and this summer was no different, posting a fantasy-friendly 17/3/8 line while shooting 47% from the field and 88% from the line.
The assist potential may be lower with Brooklyn, but he can attack and has never been shy offensively. Fantasy basketball is about minutes, opportunity and production and he can get all three in Brooklyn’s current state.
