The results of the Paris Olympics led to some movement in the FIBA rankings, according to a press release from the organization. The USA remains at the top spot, with Serbia – which narrowly lost Team USA in the semifinals – moving up from No. 4 to No. 2.
Germany, the 2023 FIBA World Cup champions, remained at No. 3, while France leaped five notches to No. 4. Canada moved up two slots to round out the top five.
We have more from around the international basketball world:
- Former NBA guard John Jenkins has signed with Tofas in Turkey, according to Sportando. Jenkins spent the last two seasons with the G League Ignite, appearing in a total of 43 games. He averaged 17.5 points in 16 regular season games last season. Jenkins hasn’t appeared in an NBA contest since the 2018/19 season, when he played a total of 26 games with the Knicks and Wizards.
- Joel Embiid has been awarded the Medal of Commander of the Order of Valor by his native Cameroon in recognition of his Olympic gold medal, according to a TMZ report (hat tip to Eurohoops.net). Embiid moved to the U.S. when he was 16. Cameroon may have had an ulterior motive for celebrating Embiid — he hinted at the possibility of representing his homeland at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, though that switch would require USA Basketball and FIBA to sign off.
- Former Clippers and Timberwolves guard C.J. Williams has signed with Poland’s Start Lublin, Sportando relays. Williams, who played in Romania last season, appeared in a total of 53 NBA games from 2017-19.
So it came out the voting for MVP started before the medal rounds is why Lebron won. Curry’s 2 big games were after voting started. So the writers didn’t favor Lebron the voting system was messed up voting too soon.
James was the most irreplaceable, grounded, and consistently productive American in France. He led the United States in minutes, rebounds, assist and tied Edwards for steals. He was also second to Curry in points and +/-. Whenever Team USA seemed a little lost it was LeBron who reigned them back in. He also guarded Jokic and Wembanyama in the medal round during crunch time.
As much as I loved Steph’s final 2 games, you’re right. We don’t make semi-finals without LeBron. Nor do we win against Serbia or France.
Siakam is also from Cameroon I could see them representing Africa at the next Olympics
Ryan O , which other teams are competing to represent Africa at the next Olympics?
Arc89 , the Olympics/IOC are notorious for this problem more broadly. It’s about $$$. Beyond the medals, the purpose of all awards is to generate attention. Coverage goes to the best known athletes, not necessarily the best performing. If you look at the internationally broadcast Olympic trailers for basketball, or all the signage around Paris, you’ll see LeBron James, the face of US basketball world-wide.
That’s why votes can be cast early. The right choice was LeBron, no matter what anybody else on the US team won, or even if the US won at all.
Most points, boards, assists in Olympics = Jokic and you want to argue between Bron and Steph lol. You won gold, who cares who got MVP.
Obviously you didn’t read the posts, but your analysis is, as always, flawless.
How so? It’s obvious you can hold a grudge and don’t like being shown up though. If Jokic lead the nba in points, boards, assists while making the conference finals he’d be MVP would he not? Like I said, USA won. Who cares your guy didn’t get MVP over Bron, they both balled out and you won.
“Embiid will never win another award as meaningless and undeserved as his 2022 MVP”
Cameroon: “hold my beer”