The 2024 NBA (National Basketball Association) playoff field is set following a dramatic conclusion to the regular season on Sunday (14 April).
While the 1 vs 8 and 2 vs 7 seed matchups will be determined through the Play-In Tournament taking place later this week, the four other series in the East and West are set —and there will be plenty of international Olympic talent on display throughout the playoffs.
For fans of the NBA and the international game alike, here are six Olympians to watch throughout the 2024 NBA postseason.
*As National Olympic Committees have the exclusive authority for the representation of their respective countries at the Olympic Games, athletes' participation at the Paris Games depends on their NOC selecting them to represent their delegation at Paris 2024. Click here to see the official qualification system for each sport.
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Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets & Serbia (1 x Olympic appearance, Rio 2016 silver medallist)
Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets drives against Anthony Davis of the Los Angeles Lakers.
We begin with the reigning league and Finals MVP (Most Valuable Player) who, incidentally, is currently the favourite to win a third league MVP award following a season in which the 29-year-old posted per game averages of 26.4 points, 12.4 rebounds and nine assists on 58 per cent shooting the field—statistics that place him in the top 10 of every category in the entire league.
Unsurprisingly, Jokic helped lead the Nuggets to a 57-25 record and the No.2 seed in the stacked Western Conference, which means the New Orleans Pelicans or Los Angeles Lakers will face the daunting task of slowing down the 2.11m (6 ft 11) big man.
Jokic was absent from the Serbia squad that lost to Germany at the FIBA World Cup 2023 final, having earned some well-deserved rest after helping Denver win its first championship in franchise history. But with the Olympic Games Paris 2024 quickly approaching, is it more likely we’ll see the Joker make his first Olympic appearance since winning silver in Rio back in 2016? According to a December interview with Aleksandar Zigic of RTS, Jokic is still undecided —despite Serbian head coach Bozidar Maljkovic claiming he would be part of the Eagles’ roster for the Games.
“It’s far. Some people put words in my mouth that I said something that I didn’t. The head coach is the first to know [my commitment]. I always talk to the family and the team after the season.”
In short —we’ll have to wait until Denver’s season ends to hear what Jokic’s plans are for a possible summer in France.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder & Canada
MANILA, PHILIPPINES - SEPTEMBER 10: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of Canada controls the ball against Mikal Bridges #5 of the United States in the second quarter during the FIBA Basketball World Cup 3rd Place game at Mall of Asia Arena on September 10, 2023 in Manila, Philippines. (Photo by Yong Teck Lim/Getty Images)
Yes, technically speaking Gilgeous-Alexander isn’t an Olympian... yet.
However, the 25-year-old, who led Canada to the bronze medal at the 2023 FIBA World Cup and a first Olympic qualification in 23 years, has already made clear his intentions to represent Team Canada at Paris 2024.
As the focal point of the Oklahoma City Thunder’s potent attack (120.1 points per game, third-best in the NBA), Gilgeous-Alexander possesses an elite arsenal of moves to be able to get to the rim—or free-throw line—at will, which explains why he averaged 30.1 points per game (third-highest in the NBA) and attempted 649 free throws (second-highest) this season. He’s also an absolute ball-hawk, leading the league (alongside De’Aaron Fox of the Sacramento Kings) in total steals with 150.
Obviously, Canada Basketball would be foolish to head to France without him, especially given the tough Group Canada has been drawn into for the Games. First though is the minor matter of the NBA playoffs; the Thunder, as the top seed in the West, will discover their first round opponent at the conclusion of the Play-In Tournament.
Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics & USA (1 x Olympic appearances Tokyo 2020 gold medallist)
The Boston Celtics ended the 2023-24 NBA regular season with the best record in the league (64-18), in large part thanks to the superhuman efforts of Jayson Tatum.
The 26-year-old has been in contention for the MVP award for the past two seasons and will be again in 2024 after posting averages of 26.9ppg, 8.1 rpg and 4.9 apg while guiding the Celtics to their first 60-win season since 2009.
Tatum, who has previously represented the USA on the international stage (winning gold at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in 2021), has already announced that he “would love” to compete at Paris 2024, and is part of the 41-athlete player pool for the 2024 USA Basketball men’s national team.
Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks & Slovenia (1 x Olympic appearance)
Doncic’s Olympic debut lived up to expectations as Slovenia—in their first Olympic basketball tournament, no less—finished fourth at Tokyo 2020, with Doncic selected to the All-Star Team of the tournament.
Since then, the 25-year-old has continued to dominate, and in 2023-24 he almost averaged a triple-double with a league-high 33.9 points per game, 9.2 rebounds per game and 9.8 assists per game. The Mavericks went on a tear to finish the season, winning 16 of their last 18 games; Dallas will now face the Los Angeles Clippers in one of the premiere matchups of the first round, as Doncic and teammate Kyrie Irving will square off against the trio of Paul George, Kawhi Leonard and Russell Westbrook.
We could still see Doncic and Slovenia at Paris 2024 too, depending on how they perform at the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT).
Franz Wagner, Orlando Magic & Germany
Yes, yes, just like Gilgeous-Alexander, Wagner isn’t an Olympian just yet, but we’d be remiss to leave him off this list, given Germany’s historic success at the World Cup last year and subsequent qualification for Paris 2024.
Wagner carried on his good form after helping Germany win the World Cup into the 2023-24 season, posting career highs in points (19.7), rebounds (5.3) and assists (3.7) per game. While teammate Paolo Banchero might be the face of the Orlando team preparing to face the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 4-5 clash in the East, Wagner is the sure-fire No.2 option and will be key to the Magic’s postseason run—not to mention Die Mannschaft’s plans for the Olympics.
LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers & USA (3 x Olympic appearances, 2 x gold medallist (Beijing 2008 & London 2012), 1 x bronze medallist (Athens 2004)
LeBron James
Clearly, the rules of aging in elite professional sport do not apply to LeBron James who, at 39, is as powerful a force on the basketball court as he’s ever been. Sure, his athleticism isn’t quite what it was when he was drafted as a spry 18-year-old but make no mistake: the King still wears the crown in basketball.
The accolades of the NBA’s all-time leading scorer speak for themselves, and his passing ability, powerful dunks and chasedown blocks mean the basketball legend is still must-watch TV—especially now that we’ve entered the postseason.
The Lakers will have to navigate the perils of the Play-In Tournament to make the playoffs, where a date with the Nuggets or Thunder awaits, but no team will want to face LeBron James when he’s still playing at such a spectacular level.
In fact, James remains committed to playing for the USA at Paris 2024 in what would be his fourth Olympic Games, telling reporters at the NBA All-Star Game in February: "I told myself before the season, when I committed to being part of the Olympic team, obviously it was all predicated on my health.
"As it stands right now, I am healthy enough to be on the team and perform at a level that I know I can perform at."
Here’s hoping we get the chance to see the future Hall of Famer compete at the Games one more time this summer.
