2024 Paris Olympics MVP Rankings: Top 5 potential candidates ahead of tournament tipoff
The Paris Olympics MVP award is a prestigious honor that every basketball player dreams of achieving while representing their nation. This time, the competition is tougher than ever. The teams competing for the gold medal in the prestigious international tournament are full of talented players who have proved their worth in some of the best basketball leagues worldwide.
Moreover, some players have winning experiences on big international stages, giving them an edge over first-timers. Let's take a look at the top five prospects who could be named the Paris Olympics MVP in basketball.
2024 Paris Olympics MVP Rankings
5. Dennis Schroder
Dennis Schroder is coming off a successful international campaign with his national team, Germany. He is the reigning MVP of the 2023 FIBA World Cup and will seek to continue his incredible international form in the Olympics.
His success in the 2023 FIBA World Cup was not a one-time wonder either. Schroder has consistently delivered while wearing the Germany jersey. He averaged 17.9 points and 6.7 assists and earned the TISSOT MVP of the event.
4. Stephen Curry
Stephen Curry will be playing in his first-ever Olympic tournament in Paris. The Golden State Warriors superstar has earned fame as one of the greatest shooters basketball has ever seen. He will be a crucial part of Team USA's offensive plans.
It doesn't take much to get Curry fired up, and once his 3-point shots start landing, he will not shy away from taking shots past the half-court line.
Curry is the master of clutch performances and has displayed it throughout his career. He would be a solid candidate for the Paris Olympics MVP honor and would rank higher on this list if not for a certain teammate also featured in the list.
3. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Canada's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had a monster season with the Oklahoma City Thunder where he finished as the runner-up for the NBA MVP award. He has a strong chance to become the Paris Olympics MVP. He is one of the few players who has no problem in carrying over his NBA form to the international stage.
Entering the Olympics, his numbers from exhibition games lie at 15.7 points, four rebounds and four assists. Although Canada's basketball team has evolved a lot and is now much more talented, the journey to the gold medal won't be an easy one for them.
2. Nikola Jokic
The reigning NBA MVP, Nikola Jokic, is one of the finest players to ever step on the hard court. His playstyle makes the game look effortless and mesmerizes the audience. He was incredible for the Nuggets last season and has been great for his national team Serbia as well.
Coming into the tournament, his averages from the five exhibition games are 16.5 points, 11.3 rebounds and three assists. His one-legged jumper is the ultimate shot that adds more value to his already stat-packed resume. However, the road to success and a possible Paris Olympics MVP honor might be tough for Jokic as his national team is not the best.
1. LeBron James
LeBron James demonstrated the peak of his current abilities in the exhibition games that Team USA played against Australia, Serbia, Canada and South Sudan. He delivered clutch performances throughout, including a 23-point effort against South Sudan, without which his team would have had a hard time securing the win.
Performance aside, just the fact that the 39-year-old decided to suit up for his national team for the fourth time in the Olympics speaks volumes about his determination and motivation. If LeBron continues to play as he did in the exhibition games, his winning the Paris Olympics MVP honor will just be a matter of time.