2024 Olympic basketball knockout preview - Where Team USA stacks up - ESPN

PARIS — This week begins the next phase of what might be the most competitive international basketball tournament ever, with an unprecedented depth of talent reaching the 2024 Paris Olympic quarterfinals.

Start with the fact that there are six NBA Most Valuable Players with a total of 13 trophies — LeBron James (4), Nikola Jokic (3), Stephen Curry (2), Giannis Antetokounmpo (2), Kevin Durant and Joel Embiid — in the field and go from there.

Four of the five first-team All-NBA players from last season — Jokic, Antetokounmpo, Jayson Tatum and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander — are in the race for gold. And then add seven of the 10 players who made second- and third-team All-NBA: James, Curry, Durant, Anthony Davis, Devin Booker, Tyrese Haliburton and Anthony Edwards. Reigning NBA Rookie of the Year Victor Wembanyama and Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert headline France's team.

Even by Olympic standards, this assembly of talent is remarkable. Here is a look at the remaining teams' biggest strengths and weaknesses as they jostle for a coveted spot on the Olympic podium.

Strengths: Unmatched depth, tremendous athleticism and unrivaled star power. James, who is averaging 14.3 points and 7.3 assists, and Durant, who is shooting 64%, are pacing the Americans. The second unit of Derrick White, Bam Adebayo, Edwards, Davis and Durant would probably still be favored to win the gold even if it were on its own. As demonstrated in pool play, the Americans have terrific perimeter options and rim protectors in Davis, Adebayo and Embiid, and the team is devastating in transition.

Weaknesses: Rebounding and half-court offense. The Americans are fourth in rebounds per game (41) behind Australia, Serbia and South Sudan and are averaging 9.3