Luka Doncic rallies Slovenia into Olympics while Canada’s men will miss Tokyo
Olympic qualifying is underway, and if you’re wondering why Team USA hasn’t been in the headlines, it’s because they’ve already handled business.
The Americans have not played an Olympic game yet because they’ve already solidified their spot in Tokyo. Other teams were not so fortunate, and some of them were littered with NBA talent.
Here’s how the qualifying round has shaped out so far, and who’s won and lost ahead of the Games.
Slovenia
Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic has made international history. Doncic put up 31 points, 13 assists and 11 rebounds in Slovenia’s 11-point win over Lithuania on Sunday. He led the nation to its first-ever Olympics appearance.
Doncic and backup Denver Nuggets forward Vlatko Cancar were the only NBA players on the Slovenian National Team. Team Lithuania was led by Indiana Pacers star Domantas Sabonis and Memphis Grizzlies big man Jonas Valanciunas, but neither could overcome Doncic’s firepower.
Canada
The Canadian National Team had enough talent to win a few games against NBA opponents, but they came up short in a disappointing performance that left them on the outside of the Olympics looking in.
A roster coached by the Toronto Raptors’ Nick Nurse and headlined by 10 NBA players — including Andrew Wiggins (Golden State Warriors), RJ Barrett (New York Knicks), Luguentz Dort (Oklahama City Thunder), Dwight Powell (Mavericks), Nickeil Alexander-Walker (New Orleans Pelicans), Cory Joseph (Detroit Pistons) and Trey Lyles (San Antonio Spurs) — dug themselves a 13-point hole and ultimately lost in the semifinals, 103-101, to a Czech Republic national team with only one NBA player: Tomas Satoransky.
Barrett impressed in his team’s elimination game, posting a team-high 23 points and six assists. Wiggins chipped in 22 and Alexander-Walker scored 21. It was the 37-year-old Blake Schilb, however, whose 31 points powered the Czech Republic to an upset over Canada.
Greece
No Giannis Antetokounmpo, no problem.
Without Giannis (although with his brother Kostas), the Greek national team made it to an Olympic Qualifying Tournament final. They beat Turkey — led by the Philadelphia 76ers’ Furkan Korkmaz and the Cleveland Cavaliers' Cedi Osman — to make it without the country’s MVP.
Team USA
The American men’s national basketball team includes Kevin Durant (Brooklyn Nets), Bradley Beal (Washington Wizards), Devin Booker (Phoenix Suns), Bam Adebayo (Miami Heat), Jerami Grant (Pistons), Draymond Green (Warriors), Jrue Holiday (Milwaukee Bucks), Zach LaVine (Chicago Bulls), Damian Lillard (Portland Trail Blazers), Kevin Love (Cavaliers), Khris Middleton (Bucks) and Jayson Tatum (Boston Celtics).
Team USA is in Group A of the Olympic Preliminary Round groups, lumped together with Iran, France and the winner of the Olympic Qualifying Tournament final between Czech Republic and Greece.
Team USA will play its first Olympic preliminary round game against France at 8 a.m. on July 25. The gold medal games are expected to end by Aug. 7.
