2024 Men's Olympic Basketball Odds: USA an Odds-On Favorite

While the NBA offseason hits its annual lull, sportsbooks are continuing to fine-tune the men's Olympic basketball odds for this week's Summer Games in Paris, France.

After the USA fell flat on its face, failing to medal at last year's FIBA World Cup, there was an immediate swell of support from LeBron James and others, ready to launch a Redeem Team-esque effort. 

As such, the Americans sit as the heavy odds-on favorites ahead of the showcase, beginning July 27. Let's break down the Olympic men's basketball odds for Paris 2024.

2024 Olympic men's basketball odds

Odds as of  7-24-24

2024 Olympic men's basketball favorites

USA (-500)

As if the debate between the older and younger generations of basketball fans needed more fuel, this iteration of the USA Men's Olympic basketball team may very well be on par with the original Dream Team. 

I mean, this roster speaks for itself: 

📸 The 2024 USA Basketball Men’s National Team

🇺🇸 #USABMNT pic.twitter.com/JXQbS4bR6k

— USA Basketball (@usabasketball) July 8, 2024

This is a squad with a combined 11 NBA Titles and eight NBA MVP awards. It's got arguably the greatest player to play the Game in LeBron James, the best pure shooter ever in Steph Curry, and one History's most lethal scorers in Kevin Durant. On the inside, Anthony Davis, Joel Embiid, and Bam Adebayo should have their way with most opposing frontcourt (more on that in  moment), with Tyrese Haliburton and Devin Booker playing creator. 

The Americans have all the talent to make this their tournament to lose, and the motivation should be there after 2023's disappointment.  

Canada (+1,100)

Canada's top-to-bottom roster may be bested only by the Americans in terms of raw talent, but as a country whose basketball program only recently became a serious presence, there still hasn't been much accomplishment to hang a hat on. 

The bronze OT win over the USA at the World Cup (Dillon Brooks Nation stand up!) was arguably the biggest moment in Canada's national team History, but set the expectations for Paris higher than ever. 

There's reason to believe the roster will be better than ever too, with Jamal Murray among those absent for FIBA. There are also plenty of youngsters on this roster who have improved in the past year, not excluding Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who finished runner-up in NBA MVP voting for the Thunder.

Meanwhile, Andrew Wiggins is out for Team Canada, but the roster depth behind him is more formidable than ever before:

Mutual decision between the Warriors and Andrew Wiggins to prioritize his health and hold him out of Olympics, I’m told. Doesn’t preclude GSW from possibly trading him, but it’s a medical decision. Wiggins dealt with an ankle issue late this past season. https://t.co/W3jyDMY8Y1

— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) June 28, 2024

The future's never looked brighter for Canada's national team, but they're at the point where they need to be now, instead of next. 

France (+1,200)

The host nation combines NBA talent with fluent continuity and international experience, all backed in the middle by what is certainly the most fearsome defensive duo in the Olympic tournament. 

Rudy Gobert and Victor Wembanyama finished 1-2 in the NBA DPOY voting last season, and will form a formidable tag-team protecting the French basket. Between the shorter 3-point line and lack of three-in-the-key violation, it will be even tougher for opponents to attack these twin towers; presumably with Gobert nailed to the hoop and Wembanyama covering space as a free safety of sorts. 

Playing in front of a home crowd will no doubt give the French team an intangible edge, and impressive performances in their tune-ups have helped them leapfrog Serbia as the third choice on the odds board. 

Olympic men's basketball groups

The most difficult path to a medal definitely runs through Group A, featuring four relative powerhouse nations, including outright second-choice Canada as the consensus favorite.

However, with Greece, Spain, and Australia also in tow, the group truly has no weak links. Australia, a relative longshot for gold, is still stocked with NBA talent from the likes of Josh Giddey, Patty Mills, Dyson Daniels, Joe Ingles, and more.

Spain is an international powerhouse, and while the program has fallen a bit since the glory days of Ricky Rubio and the Gasol brothers, current (Santi Aldama) and former NBAers line this roster, chocked full of international experience. 

And, of course, the Greeks are led by none other than Giannis Antetokounmpo, which is about all a team needs to be considered an undesirable opponent in this tournament. 

The Canadians are looking at their best-ever chance to place at the Olympics, but the path to the medal round will be anything but smooth. 

*Odds to win group displayed in brackets, as of 7-24-24

Olympic men's basketball odds to medal

The layout of this board mirrors the Gold Medal odds heavily but gives bettors a bit more of a sweat to chase throughout the tournament since the USA is heavily favored to be atop the podium in a couple of weeks. 

Odds as of  7-24-24

Olympic men's basketball Tournament MVP odds

With the USA sitting as massive favorites for Olympic men's basketball gold, it only stands to reason that their (brightest) stars would dominate the Tournament MVP odds board. Take your pick in this sea of future Hall-of-Famers:

Odds as of 7-22-24

Previous Olympic men's basketball winners

Here is a list of the last 10 Olympic men's basketball winners:

*Former countries

Most Olympic men's basketball medals all-time

*Former country

Where to bet on Olympic basketball

If you're in a state that allows mobile, or online betting, make sure you know which sites are the best basketball betting sites. The best betting sites offer sharp odds, quick payouts and are safe and secure when it comes to depositing and withdrawing your money.