Comprehensive guide to Rio 2016 men's basketball tournament
Ethan Miller / Getty Images Sport / Getty
The 2016 Olympic men's basketball tournament gets underway Friday, Aug. 6 at Carioca Arena 1 when Australia battles France in the opening match of the group stage.
With a roster featuring 10 current and former NBA All-Stars, it may seem like a foregone conclusion that the Americans will steamroll their way to a third straight gold medal and sixth in seven tries. Nonetheless, the other 11 nations won't lay down at their feet with the eyes of the sports world squarely on Rio de Janeiro.
Here's a complete breakdown of everything you need to know to get set for this year's tournament.
History
| Year | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Yugoslavia | Italy | Soviet Union |
| 1984 | USA | Spain | Yugoslavia |
| 1988 | Soviet Union | Yugoslavia | USA |
| 1992 | USA | Croatia | Lithuania |
| 1996 | USA | Yugoslavia | Lithuania |
| 2000 | USA | France | Lithuania |
| 2004 | Argentina | Italy | USA |
| 2008 | USA | Spain | Argentina |
| 2012 | USA | Spain | Russia |
Groups
The 12 squads have been divided into two groups of six teams. Each team will play every other team in its group once, with two points awarded for a victory and one for a loss. The four teams with the most points from each group will advance to the knockout bracket.
Group A
- France (FIBA Ranking: 5)
- United States of America (FIBA Ranking: 1)
- Venezuela (FIBA Ranking: 22)
- Serbia (FIBA Ranking: 6)
- China (FIBA Ranking: 14)
- Australia (FIBA Ranking: 11)
Group B
- Argentina (FIBA Ranking: 4)
- Spain (FIBA Ranking: 2)
- Brazil (FIBA Ranking: 9)
- Lithuania (FIBA Ranking: 3)
- Croatia (FIBA Ranking: 12)
- Nigeria (FIBA Ranking: 25)
Rosters
France
| Position | Player | Club |
|---|---|---|
| PG | Thomas Heurtel | Anadolu Efes (Turkey) |
| SF | Nicolas Batum | Charlotte Hornets (NBA) |
| G | Antoine Diot | Valencia (Spain) |
| F/C | Joffrey Lauvergne | Denver Nuggets (NBA) |
| SF | Charles Kahudi | ASVEL Basket (France) |
| PG | Tony Parker | San Antonio Spurs (NBA) |
| PF | Florent Pietrus | SLUC Nancy (France) |
| G | Nando de Colo | CSKA Moscow (Russia) |
| PF | Boris Diaw | Utah Jazz (NBA) |
| SF | Mickael Gelabale | Le Mans Sarthe (France) |
| C | Rudy Gobert | Utah Jazz (NBA) |
| C | Kim Tillie | Laboral Kutxa (Spain) |
United States of America
| Position | Player | Club |
|---|---|---|
| SG | Jimmy Butler | Chicago Bulls (NBA) |
| SF | Kevin Durant | Golden State Warriors (NBA) |
| C | DeAndre Jordan | Los Angeles Clippers (NBA) |
| PG | Kyle Lowry | Toronto Raptors (NBA) |
| F | Harrison Barnes | Dallas Mavericks (NBA) |
| SG | DeMar DeRozan | Toronto Raptors (NBA) |
| PG | Kyrie Irving | Cleveland Cavaliers (NBA) |
| SG | Klay Thompson | Golden State Warriors (NBA) |
| C | DeMarcus Cousins | Sacramento Kings (NBA) |
| F | Paul George | Indiana Pacers (NBA) |
| F | Carmelo Anthony | New York Knicks (NBA) |
| F | Draymond Green | Golden State Warriors (NBA) |
Related: Which teams have the best shot at beating the U.S.?
Venezuela
| Position | Player | Club |
|---|---|---|
| PF | Nestor Colmenares | Guaros de Lara (Venezuela) |
| F/C | Windi Graterol | Guaros de Lara (Venezuela) |
| F | Anthony Perez | Ole Miss (NCAA) |
| G | John Cox | Bucaneros de La Guaira (Venezuela) |
| PG | Heissler Guillent | Guaros de Lara (Venezuela) |
| PF | Miguel Ruiz | Trotamundos de Carabobo (Venezuela) |
| PG | David Cubillan | Trotamundos de Carabobo (Venezuela) |
| G/F | Dwight Lewis | Trotamundos de Carabobo (Venezuela) |
| PG | Gregory Vargas | Marinos de Anzoategui (Venezuela) |
| C | Gregory Echenique | Guaros de Lara (Venezuela) |
| C | Miguel Marriaga | Toros de Aragua (Venezuela) |
| G/F | Jose Vargas | Marinos de Anzoategui (Venezuela) |
Serbia
| Position | Player | Club |
|---|---|---|
| PG | Teodosić, Miloš | CSKA Moscow (Russia) |
| SF | Simonović, Marko | Crvena Zvezda (Serbia) |
| SG | Bogdanović, Bogdan | Fenerbahce (Turkey) |
| PG | Marković, Stefan | Baloncesto Málaga (Spain) |
| SF | Kalinić, Nikola | Fenerbahce (Turkey) |
| G | Nedović, Nemanja | Baloncesto Málaga (Spain) |
| PF | Birčević, Stefan | Partizan Belgrade (Serbia) |
| C | Raduljica, Miroslav | Emporio Armani Milano (Italy) |
| C | Jokić, Nikola | Denver Nuggets (NBA) |
| C | Štimac, Vladimir | Crvena Zvezda (Serbia) |
| PG | Jović, Stefan | Crvena Zvezda (Serbia) |
| PF | Mačvan, Milan | Emporio Armani Milano (Italy) |
China
| Position | Player | Club |
|---|---|---|
| PG | Zhao Jiwei | Liaoning Flying Leopards (China) |
| G | Sui Ran | Shandong Golden Stars (China) |
| G | Guo Ailun | Liaoning Flying Leopards (China) |
| SF | Ding Yanyuhang | Shandong Golden Stars (China) |
| SF | Zhai Xiaochaun | Beijing Ducks (China) |
| G/F | Zhou Peng | Guangdong Southern Tigers (China) |
| PF | Yi Jianlian | Guangdong Southern Tigers (China) |
| G/F | Li Gen | Xinjiang Flying Tigers (China) |
| C | Li Muhao | Shenzhen Leopards (China) |
| F/C | Zou Yuchen | Bayi Rockets (China) |
| F/C | Zhou Qi | Xinjiang Flying Tigers (China) |
| F/C | Wang Zhelin | Fujian Sturgeons (China) |
Australia
| Position | Player | Club |
|---|---|---|
| F/C | David Andersen | Melbourne United (Australia) |
| F/C | Cameron Bairstow | Brisbane Bullets (Australia) |
| C | Aron Baynes | Detroit Pistons (NBA) |
| F/C | Andrew Bogut | Dallas Mavericks (NBA) |
| G/F | Ryan Broekhoff | PBC Lokomotiv-Kuban (Russia) |
| G | Matthew Dellavedova | Milwaukee Bucks (NBA) |
| SG | Chris Goulding | Melbourne United (Australia) |
| SF | Joe Ingles | Utah Jazz (NBA) |
| G | Kevin Lisch | Sydney Kings (Australia) |
| PG | Damian Martin | Perth Wildcats (Australia) |
| PG | Patty Mills | San Antonio Spurs (NBA) |
| PF | Brock Motum | Žalgiris Kaunas (Lithuania) |
Argentina
| Position | Player | Club |
|---|---|---|
| PF | Luis Scola | Brooklyn Nets (NBA) |
| SG | Manu Ginobili | San Antonio Spurs (NBA) |
| PG | Facundo Campazzo | CB Murcia (Spain) |
| PG | Nicolás Laprovíttola | Movistar Estudiantes (Spain) |
| SG | Nicolás Brussino | Dallas Mavericks (NBA) |
| SF | Carlos Delfino | N/A |
| C | Marcos Delía | Obras Sanitarias (Argentina) |
| SF | Andrés Nocioni | Real Madrid (Spain) |
| SF | Gabriel Deck | Quimsa (Argentina) |
| PF | Leo Mainoldi | Gimnasia Indalo (Argentina) |
| G/F | Patricio Garino | George Washington Colonials (NCAA) |
| C | Roberto Acuña | Peñarol (Argentina) |
Related: 4 non-NBA players to watch in Rio men's tournament
Spain
| Position | Player | Club |
|---|---|---|
| C | Pau Gasol | San Antonio Spurs (NBA) |
| SF | Rudy Fernandez | Real Madrid (Spain) |
| PG | Sergio Rodriguez | Philadelphia 76ers (NBA) |
| C | Willy Hernangómez | New York Knicks (NBA) |
| SG | Sergio Llull | Real Madrid (Spain) |
| PF | Nikola Mirotic | Chicago Bulls (NBA) |
| SG | Juan Carlos Navarro | FC Barcelona (Spain) |
| PF | Felipe Reyes | Real Madrid (Spain) |
| PG | Ricky Rubio | Minnesota Timberwolves (NBA) |
| PF | Victor Claver | Lokomotiv Kuban (Russia) |
| PG | Jose Calderon | Los Angeles Lakers (NBA) |
| SF | Alex Abrines | Oklahoma City Thunder (NBA) |
Brazil
| Position | Player | Club |
|---|---|---|
| PG | Raulzinho Neto | Utah Jazz (NBA) |
| C | Cristiano Felicio | Chicago Bulls (NBA) |
| G | Vitor Benite | UCAM Murcia (Spain) |
| PG | Marcelinho Huertas | Los Angeles Lakers (NBA) |
| G/F | Alex Garcia | Bauru (Brazil) |
| F | Guilherme Giovannoni | Brasilia (Brazil) |
| F/C | Nene | Houston Rockets (NBA) |
| SF | Marquinhos Souza | Flamengo (Brazil) |
| SG | Leandro Barbosa | Phoenix Suns (NBA) |
| F/C | Augusto Lima | Real Madrid (Spain) |
| F/C | Rafael Hettsheimeir | Bauru (Brazil) |
| PG | Rafael Luz | Saski Baskonia (Spain) |
Lithuania
| Position | Player | Club |
|---|---|---|
| PG | Mantas Kalnietis | Olimpia Milano (Italy) |
| G | Adas Juškevičius | Lietuvos Rytas (Lithuania) |
| SF | Jonas Mačiulis | Real Madrid (Spain) |
| SG | Renaldas Seibutis | Žalgiris (Lithuania) |
| F/C | Domantas Sabonis | Oklahoma City Thunder (NBA) |
| C | "Antanas Kavaliauskas | Lietuvos Rytas (Lithuania) |
| PF | Paulius Jankūnas | Žalgiris (Lithuania) |
| C | Robertas Javtokas | Žalgiris (Lithuania) |
| C | Jonas Valančiūnas | Toronto Raptors |
| SF | Mindaugas Kuzminskas | New York Knicks (NBA) |
| G/F | Marius Grigonis | Iberostar Tenerife (Spain) |
| G | Vaidas Kariniauskas | Kymis B.C. (Greece) |
Croatia
| Position | Player | Club |
|---|---|---|
| SF | Luka Babić | Cedevita (Croatia) |
| SG | Filip Krušlin | Cedevita (Croatia) |
| PG | Rok Stipčević | Dinamo Sassari (Italy) |
| SG | Krunoslav Simon | Armani Milano (Italy) |
| SF | Mario Hezonja | Orlando Magic |
| PF | Dario Šarić | Philadelphia 76ers (NBA) |
| PG | Roko Ukić | Pallacanestro Cantù (Italy) |
| C | Darko Planinić | Laboral Kutxa (Spain) |
| C | Miro Bilan | Cedevita (Croatia) |
| PF | Željko Šakić | Cibona (Croatia) |
| PF | Marko Arapović | Cedevita (Croatia) |
| SG | Bojan Bogdanović | Brooklyn Nets (NBA) |
Nigeria
| Position | Player | Club |
|---|---|---|
| PG | Ben Uzoh | Lagos Islanders (Nigeria) |
| PG | Michael Umeh | Ironi Nahariya (Isreal) |
| F/C | Ike Diogu | Shenzhen Leopards (China) |
| G/F | Stan Okoye | Pallacanestro Trapani (Italy) |
| PG | Josh Akognon | Dinamo Sassari (Italy) |
| G/F | Chamberlain Oguchi | Anwil Włocławek (Poland) |
| G/F | Ebi Ere | Capitanes de Arecibo (Puerto Rico) |
| C | Andy Ogide | Poitiers Basket 86 (France) |
| G | Michael Gbinije | Detroit Pistons (NBA) |
| C | Shane Lawal | FC Barcelona |
| F/C | Alade Aminu | Hapoel Eilat B.C. (Israel) |
| F/C | Ekene Ibekwe | ČEZ Nymburk (Czech Republic) |
Schedules
Group A Schedule
| Team | France | USA | Venezuela | Serbia | China | Australia |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| France | x | Aug. 14 (1:15 PM) | Aug. 12 (9:30 PM) | Aug. 10 (1:15 PM) | Aug. 8 (9:30 PM) | Aug. 6 (1:15 PM) |
| USA | Aug. 14 (1:15 PM) | x | Aug. 8 (6:00 PM) | Aug. 12 (6:00 PM) | Aug. 6 (6:00 PM) | Aug. 10 (6:00 PM) |
| Venezuela | Aug. 12 (9:30 PM) | Aug. 8 (6:00 PM) | x | Aug. 6 (9:30 PM) | Aug. 10 (9:30 PM) | Aug. 14 (6:00 PM) |
| Serbia | Aug. 10 (1:15 PM) | Aug. 12 (6:00 PM) | Aug. 6 (9:30 PM) | x | Aug. 14 (9:30 PM) | Aug. 8 (1:15 PM) |
| China | Aug. 8 (9:30 PM) | Aug. 6 (6:00 PM) | Aug. 10 (9:30 PM) | Aug. 14 (9:30 PM) | x | Aug. 12 (1:15 PM) |
| Australia | Aug. 6 (1:15 PM) | Aug. 10 (6:00 PM) | Aug. 14 (6:00 PM) | Aug. 8 (1:15 PM) | Aug. 12 (1:15 PM) | x |
Group B Schedule
| Team | Argentina | Spain | Brazil | Lithuania | Croatia | Nigeria |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Argentina | x | Aug. 15 (6:00 PM) | Aug. 13 (1:15 PM) | TBD | Aug. 9 (9:30 PM) | Aug. 7 (9:30 PM) |
| Spain | Aug. 15 (6:00 PM) | x | Aug. 9 (1:15 PM) | Aug. 13 (6:00 PM) | Aug. 7 (6:00 PM) | Aug. 11 (6:00 PM) |
| Brazil | Aug. 13 (1:15 PM) | Aug. 9 (1:15 PM) | x | Aug. 7 (1:15 PM) | Aug. 11 (1:15 PM) | Aug. 15 (1:15 PM) |
| Lithuania | Aug. 11 (9:30 PM) | Aug. 13 (6:00 PM) | Aug. 7 (1:15 PM) | x | Aug. 15 (9:30 PM) | Aug. 9 (6:00 PM) |
| Croatia | Aug. 9 (9:30 PM) | Aug. 7 (6:00 PM) | Aug. 11 (1:15 PM) | Aug. 15 (9:30 PM) | x | Aug. 13 (9:30 PM) |
| Nigeria | Aug. 7 (9:30 PM) | Aug. 11 (6:00 PM) | Aug. 15 (1:15 PM) | Aug. 9 (6:00 PM) | Aug. 13 (9:30 PM) | x |
Knockout Stages
- Quarterfinals - Aug. 17
- Semifinals - Aug. 19
- Bronze, gold Medal Games - Aug. 21
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