LILLE (France) - The first two Gamedays of the Men's Olympic Basketball Tournament Paris 2024 are behind us, and a day off on Thursday gives us enough time to review the best individual performances so far.
We are searching for a name to add next to Kevin Durant on the all-time list. FIBA awarded the forward with the MVP honors in Japan in 2021, as Durant averaged 20.7 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game during the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
To figure out who could win the award in 2024, we put together a list of questions to help us figure out what it takes to climb the MVP Ladder in France:
1) Does his team have a legitimate chance of reaching the podium? 2) What were his numbers in the first two games at the Olympics? 3) Is he the one taking the shot if his team needs a clutch bucket? 4) What makes you think he'll be the MVP? 5) What makes you think he won't be the MVP?
#10 Giannis Antetokounmpo - Greece (-4)
1) Does his team have a legitimate chance of reaching the podium? A slim one. That's why he's only 10th here, because Greece are 0-2.
2) What were his numbers in the first two games at the Olympics? 30.5 points (#1 in Paris 2024), 8.0 rebounds (#8), efficiency rating 31.5 (#1), shooting 67.6 percent from the field, 75.0 percent from the free throw line.
3) Is he the one taking the shot if his team needs a clutch bucket? Yes. He took a big three-pointer in the final minute against Spain, but it did not drop.
4) What makes you think he'll be the MVP? Go back to question number 2.
5) What makes you think he won't be the MVP? Go back to question number 1.
#9 RJ Barrett - Canada (new)
1) Does his team have a legitimate chance of reaching the podium? Oh yes. Canada were amazing thus far, 2-0 in what was labeled the group of death. And arguably the toughest group in the history of the Olympics.
2) What were his numbers in the first two games at the Olympics? 23.5 points (#2 in Paris 2024), 5.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.5 steals, efficiency rating 26.0 (#5), shooting 59.3 percent from the field, 40.0 percent from three-point range, 91.7 percent from the free throw line.
3) Is he the one taking the shot if his team needs a clutch bucket? Hopefully. Even coach Jordi Fernandez admitted he needs to set up more plays for Barrett: "Sometimes I don't call plays for that guy and he still scores. That's what he does. I should probably be better and call more plays for him. But he finds a way."
4) What makes you think he'll be the MVP? He has easily been the second best player for Canada in their first two games, and their most consistent performer throughout 40 minutes, somebody who just does a bit of everything and fills up the entire boxscore.
5) What makes you think he won't be the MVP? Read that answer to the fourth question once again. He has easily been the second best player for Canada.
#8 Santi Aldama - Spain (new)
1) Does his team have a legitimate chance of reaching the podium? It's the first thing they teach you in the School of international basketball journalism* - Spain always have a chance of reaching podiums.
2) What were his numbers in the first two games at the Olympics? 23.0 points (#3 in Paris 2024), 8.5 rebounds (#7), 1.5 blocks, 1.0 steals, efficiency rating 25.5 (#6), shooting 46.2 percent from the field, and - get this!!! - 56.3 percent from beyond the arc on eight attempts per game.
3) Is he the one taking the shot if his team needs a clutch bucket? Yep. Unless, of course, it's a Llull mandarina.
4) What makes you think he'll be the MVP? This quote by his teammate Dario Brizuela: "He's our best player, and he knows it. He's making a step forward this year compared to the World Cup last year. He's our leader now, he played an amazing game (against Greece) and we're happy for him."
5) What makes you think he won't be the MVP? Spain still aren't certain they'll be among the elite eight, that's all.
*There is no such school.
#7 Josh Giddey - Australia (+1)
1) Does his team have a legitimate chance of reaching the podium? Yes, 1-1 so far.
2) What were his numbers in the first two games at the Olympics? 18.0 points (#11 in Paris 2024), 7.5 rebounds (#9), 7.0 assists (#4), efficiency rating 20.0 (#11), all done as the primary ballhandler, shooting 53.8 percent from the field, 45.5 from three-point range on nearly six attempts per game.
3) Is he the one taking the shot if his team needs a clutch bucket? The answer remains the same like in volume 1 of the MVP Ladder - either he's taking it, or he's got the perfect pass for Dyson Daniels or Patty Mills or Jock Landale.
4) What makes you think he'll be the MVP? He's the best player of one of the best teams. Simple as that.
5) What makes you think he won't be the MVP? Same problem as with Aldama up there.
#6 Victor Wembanyama - France (+1)
1) Does his team have a legitimate chance of reaching the podium? Oui.
2) What were his numbers in the first two games at the Olympics? 18.5 points (#7 in Paris 2024), 10.0 rebounds (#2), 4.0 assists, 3.0 steals (#1), 2.5 blocks (#1), 27.5 efficiency rating (#3), shooting 50.0 percent from the field, 44.4 percent from three-point range.
3) Is he the one taking the shot if his team needs a clutch bucket? He had a personal 8-0 run in overtime of their game against Japan, so let's give this one a strong YES.
4) What makes you think he'll be the MVP? This quote by Nicolas Batum: "It's easy to play basketball with him. His size first, but he knows how to play the game. I've played with so many great players in my career, but to play with a young guy with such high IQ, it's easy to play with him."
5) What makes you think he won't be the MVP? France are 2-0, but they are far from perfect. Their game against Germany will give us more answers, we'll know more about their medal ambitions then.
#5 Kevin Durant - USA (new)
1) Does his team have a legitimate chance of reaching the podium? Sure.
2) What were his numbers in the first two games at the Olympics? 18.5 points (#7 in Paris 2024), 71.4 percent shooting from the field, 100 percent from three-point range (!!!), 91 percent from the free throw line. The United States are a +46 team in his 39 minutes at the tournament so far.
3) Is he the one taking the shot if his team needs a clutch bucket? ...
4) What makes you think he'll be the MVP? We were there in the arena during the first half against Serbia.
5) What makes you think he won't be the MVP? There's one teammate still ahead of him in the MVP Ladder.
#4 Dennis Schroder - Germany (+1)
1) Does his team have a legitimate chance of reaching the podium? Yep.
2) What were his numbers in the first two games at the Olympics? 16.5 points, 9.0 assists (#1 in Paris 2024), 2.0 steals (#6), efficiency rating 21.0 (#8), Germany are +20 in his 60 minutes of work.
3) Is he the one taking the shot if his team needs a clutch bucket? Oh yes.
4) What makes you think he'll be the MVP? The fact that he isn't just the best passer of the Olympics so far, he's also the toughest defender for the reigning world champions. Read this quote by Brazil's Vitor Benite: "He was pretty tough, he's a really fast guy so as a shooter when you're coming off of screens, you don't know if he's coming with you. He's gonna go around the picks because he has fast legs, so it's tough. We tried working as a team to make him make a mistake, but you know the qualify of some players. If they're in the game, even on defense it's tough to get by them."
5) What makes you think he won't be the MVP? Nothing, really. He's right up there.
#3 Nikola Jokic - Serbia (-1)
1) Does his team have a legitimate chance of reaching the podium? Yep. If that 26-point defeat made you doubt them, that +41 win proved they are for real.
2) What were his numbers in the first two games at the Olympics? 17.0 points, 10.0 rebounds (#2 in Paris 2024), 8.5 assists (#2), 3.0 steals (#1), efficiency rating 29.5 (#2), 59.1 percent from the field, one assist short of the fourth ever Olympic triple-double.
3) Is he the one taking the shot if his team needs a clutch bucket? Yep. Or setting up his teammates with one of his perfect passes.
4) What makes you think he'll be the MVP? We watch basketball.
5) What makes you think he won't be the MVP? Serbia could have a tough draw in the Quarter-Finals if they get there, because they lost their matchup with the United States.
#2 Shai Gilgeous-Alexander - Canada (+1)
1) Does his team have a legitimate chance of reaching the podium? Oh yes, perfect start for them at 2-0.
2) What were his numbers in the first two games at the Olympics? 18.5 points (#7 in Paris 2024), 5.0 assists, 4.5 rebounds, 2.0 steals (#6), 2.0 blocks (#2), efficiency rating 24.5 (#7), yes, you read that correctly, he's number two in blocks per game so far, yes, we double checked.
3) Is he the one taking the shot if his team needs a clutch bucket? Oh yes. Remember how we said RJ was their most consistent player? Well, SGA has his moments when he's scanning more than scoring, but when they need to seal the deal, he's the closer. One of the best out there.
4) What makes you think he'll be the MVP? Canada could go all the way and he's their best player.
5) What makes you think he won't be the MVP? Same as Schroder. It's about who gets all the way to the top with their team.
#1 LeBron James - USA (=)
1) Does his team have a legitimate chance of reaching the podium? Yes.
2) What were his numbers in the first two games at the Olympics? 16.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, 7.0 assists (#4 in Paris 2024), efficiency rating 21.0 (#8), shooting 63.6 percent from the field.
3) Is he the one taking the shot if his team needs a clutch bucket? Probably. Or he's figuring out a way how to get those crucial points by finding KD or Steph or anybody else in a better position.
4) What makes you think he'll be the MVP? This KD quote: "So grateful to have him back. We missed him in the last two Olympics. He puts fear in the other team, that goes a long way, the psyche of the game. He's running downhill, making the right plays on offense and defensive end, it's just insane and I'm glad he's on our team."
5) What makes you think he won't be the MVP? Two things: (1) if KD ends up being the gold medal hero, or (2) if USA do not win gold here.
*The MVP Ladder rankings are entirely subjective and are in no way a true and accurate ranking system. All comments are purely those of the author.
FIBA