PARIS (France) - International basketball players enhanced their reputations this summer. The rewards were huge.
Guerschon Yabusele, France
The 28-year-old Yabusele, who spent a couple of seasons with the Boston Celtics earlier in his career, is now back in the league after a dynamic display for Les Bleus in Paris. The 2.04M (6'8") forward's slam dunk on USA's LeBron James in the Final was one of the biggest plays of the Games.
Yabusele, who was second on the France team in scoring at 14.0 points per game and efficiency at 12.3 per game, has signed a contract with the Philadelphia 76ers.
France's fortunes at the Games changed dramatically for the better as they leaned more heavily on Yabusele, who had 22 points in the Quarter-Final win over Canada, 17 in the Semi-Final triumph over Germany and 20 in the Final against the USA. Yabusele now goes from being one of the top players in Spain and Europe overall with Real Madrid to the NBA.
Stephen Curry, USA
Playing at the Olympics for the first time in his career, Curry used the stage to prove beyond any doubt that he remains the deadliest weapon on the basketball planet under intense pressure. It was not surprising after the Games that Golden State announced they had signed him to a one-year extension.
It is being widely reported that he has signed a one-year deal for $62.6 million. Under the league’s current Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), Curry was eligible for a one-year extension through the 2026-27 NBA season.
Curry made a huge splash in his first Olympics, leading the USA in scoring at 14.2 points per game. His 9 of 14 shooting from behind the arc in the Semi-Finals against Serbia put that winning result to bed for the Americans. Some of those three-pointers came at the end of the game when Serbia were threatening an upset. Curry then followed that up by drilling 8 of 12 from deep against France for all 24 of his points in the Gold Medal Game. He made the All-Star Five.
Stephen Curry probably did not need a gold medal around his neck to negotiate a contract extension with the only franchise he has ever played for. However, the fact that he demonstrated, among his teammates who are among the NBA's top talents, that he is still the deadliest offensive weapon on a basketball court today surely did not hurt his stock value.
Bruno Caboclo, Brazil
The MVP of the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Latvia, Caboclo then dazzled for Brazil at the Games in Paris where he averaged a team-high 17.3 points per game and also 7.0 rebounds per contest. He was also 6 of 11 from behind the arc in the tournament. In a win over Japan that Brazil had to have to reach the Quarter-Finals, Caboclo had 33 points. In their defeat to the heavily-favored USA in the last eight, Caboclo poured in 30 points.
His performances for Brazil earned him reported interest from Golden State but he has opted to remain in Europe and has penned a deal with Hapoel Tel Aviv with a very significant raise in salary compared to the previous year.
Ivica Zubac, Croatia
Though he didn't make it to France after falling with Croatia against Greece and Giannis Antetokounmpo at the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Piraeus, Zubac left no doubt he is among the top centers in the world. The Los Angeles Clippers have reportedly signed him to a three-year deal worth $58.6 million. Zubac averaged 22.8 points and an OQT best 11.3 rebounds in Piraeus.
Matthew Strazel, France
After helping Monaco win the French league title, Strazel made his Olympic debut for hosts France and had a memorable tournament. His most significant contribution was probably the 4-point play late in France's second game, against Japan, that tied the contest and forced overtime.
Strazel, who turned 22 during the Games, on August 5, the day before France's Quarter-Final triumph over Canada, signed a three-year contract extension with Monaco after the Games.
FIBA