The next stage of the men’s basketball tournament is soon to get underway at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Eight teams have advanced from the group phase, and they’ll now navigate through a single-elimination bracket to determine who wins the gold medal.
Team USA is the favorite to take home the top prize, but after failing to reach the podium in last year’s FIBA World Cup, should we be worried about a potential upset?
All basketball odds are current as of Monday, Aug. 5, and courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook.
Men’s Olympic Basketball Odds 2024
- United States (-600)
- Canada (+800)
- Germany (+800)
- Serbia (+2200)
- France (+4000)
- Australia (+5000)
- Greece (+5000)
- Brazil (+30000)
Men’s Olympic Basketball Schedule
Tuesday, Aug. 6
- Germany vs. Greece (5 a.m. ET)
- Serbia vs. Australia (8:30 a.m.)
- France vs. Canada (12 p.m.)
- Brazil vs. United States (3:30 p.m.)
Thursday, Aug. 8
- Men’s Semifinal 1 (11:30 a.m.)
- Men’s Semifinal 2 (3 p.m.)
Saturday, Aug. 10
- Men’s Bronze Medal Game (5 a.m.)
- Men’s Gold Medal Game (3:30 p.m.)
Who Will Win the Olympics?
United States (-600)
DraftKings Sportsbook
This is Team USA’s tournament to lose — and I’d be shocked if they failed to claim the gold medal. The squad went 3-0 during the group phase and dominated along the way, posting a massive +64 point differential.
Anthony Edwards has led the way in scoring thus far, averaging 16.7 points per game, with Kevin Durant (16.0) and LeBron James (14.3) not far behind. James also leads the team in assists per game (7.3), and Devin Booker has been a strong contributor across the board.
A matchup with Brazil in the quarterfinals shouldn’t be too challenging — Team USA is a 27-point favorite — but things could get interesting against either Serbia or Australia in the semifinals. In any case, the United States will be favored every step of the way.
I can’t recommend a bet at (-600), but if you have especially deep pockets, consider making this your basketball bet of the day.
Olympic Basketball Favorites 2024
Canada (+800)
DraftKings Sportsbook • WAGER: 0.5 Units
Canada came into the Olympics looking like the most significant threat to upset Team USA. Headlined by 2024 NBA MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, this group delivered on high expectations by going 3-0 during the group phase with a +20 point differential.
Gilgeous-Alexander has done a little bit of everything for Canada, averaging 19.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 4.0 assists. He’s hit more than a few clutch buckets along the way, and with the help of RJ Barrett (21.0 PPG), he’s put his team in an excellent position.
With that said, Canada has a tough path ahead to the gold medal. A quarterfinal matchup with France — followed by a likely meeting with Germany in the semis — could prevent them from ever meeting the United States. A half-unit wager is the way to go at (+800).
Germany (+800)
DraftKings Sportsbook • WAGER: 0.5 Units
I recommended a bet on Germany before the Olympics began at (+3000), and the squad has since moved all the way up to (+800) following a stellar showing in the group phase. Germany came into the 2024 Olympics on the heels of a gold-medal result at the 2023 FIBA World Cup, so it’s no surprise to see them here.
Franz Wagner is the premier player on the roster, averaging a team-best 21.7 points per game, but Dennis Schröder has continued his fantastic international play by notching 19.7 points and 9.0 assists through the first three games.
Germany will take on Giannis Antetokounmpo and Greece in the quarterfinals, which won’t be an easy battle. If it can advance, though, Team USA would be wise to keep an eye out.
Olympic Basketball Contenders 2024
Serbia (+2200)
DraftKings Sportsbook
Serbia rosters arguably the best player in the world in Nikola Jokić. The Nuggets superstar is a three-time NBA MVP who can do virtually everything on the court, and he’s been a nightmare for every other team to defend, averaging 18.7 points, 11.0 rebounds, and 7.0 assists per game.
The squad’s high-powered offense was also on display during the group phase, scoring 95.7 points per game — the second-most in the field. Only the United States (105.7 PPG) scored more.
Serbia would likely have better odds than (+2200) to win gold if it didn’t face a likely matchup with Team USA in the semifinals. The United States handed Jokić’s squad a 110-84 loss to open the group phase on July 28, so it’s tough to feel optimistic about their chances this time around — if they can even get by Australia.
France (+4000)
DraftKings Sportsbook
France will likely be a powerhouse for years to come, and much of that has to do with Victor Wembanyama. The 20-year-old, 7-foot-4 center has already left an undeniable mark on the NBA, and he’s been showing out in the Olympics, leading the team in points, rebounds, assists, and steals per game.
- Get up to date on the latest Women’s Olympic Basketball odds.
This squad has struggled offensively, though, averaging the fourth-fewest points per game during the group phase. France was also blown out by Germany in its most recent outing, and a quarterfinal matchup with Canada looks like this could be the end of the road for the host nation.
The (+4000) odds are intriguing, but it would take a miracle for this team to win gold. Your money is best spent elsewhere.
Olympic Basketball Sleepers 2024
Australia (+5000)
DraftKings Sportsbook
Australia went 1-2 during the group phase, but that record doesn’t tell the whole story. Narrow losses to Canada and Greece helped keep the Boomers in contention heading into the quarterfinals, as their -4 point differential had them ranked second in Group A.
Unfortunately for Australia, things won’t get any easier from here. A meeting with Jokić and Serbia will likely do this team in, but if the Boomers find a way to advance, their reward will be a semifinal matchup with the United States.
One plus: Jock Landale has genuinely looked like one of the best players in these Olympics, averaging 17.7 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game. He was a staggering +30 in Australia’s 12-point win over Spain to open the group phase.
Greece (+5000)
DraftKings Sportsbook
Greece went 1-2 during the group phase, but like Australia, that record isn’t a great indicator of its potential. Both losses (Spain, Canada) came by just seven points apiece, leaving the squad with a -8 point differential overall.
Giannis Antetokounmpo is obviously the big name here, and he’s performed as expected thus far, leading the team in scoring (27.0) and rebounds (7.7) per game. His 81 total points are the most of any player in the Olympics this year.
With that said, Greece’s path to the gold is daunting. Antetokounmpo’s team comes into the quarterfinals as an 8-point underdog against Germany, and they would have to go through either Canada or France in the semis before potentially taking on the United States in the final.
