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Lakers

Every NBA season comes with its fair share of surprises, and the 2024-25 campaign has been no different. While championship contenders and superstars have dominated headlines, several teams have quietly &mdash; or loudly &mdash; rewritten their narratives in spectacular fashion. These aren&rsquo;t just flukes or hot streaks. These are teams that have made a leap, exceeded expectations, and found themselves in playoff positioning when few thought they&rsquo;d be here, or surpassing their previous season&rsquo;s accomplishments.
Whether it&rsquo;s through masterful coaching, player development, savvy roster moves, or simply finding the right chemistry at the right time, these are the teams that have all proven that projections and preseason power rankings don&rsquo;t always tell the full story. Here's a closer look at how these franchises flipped the script and are now among the best feel-good stories of the season.
Detroit Pistons Previous season&rsquo;s record: 17-65 This season&rsquo;s record: 44-38, 6th in the East
Perhaps no team has made a bigger leap &mdash; or captured the league&rsquo;s heart &mdash; more than the Detroit Pistons. Just a year removed from a miserable 17-win season, the Pistons have pulled off one of the most dramatic turnarounds in recent NBA memory. They are now sixth in the Eastern Conference, and have set a playoff date against the third-seeded New York Knicks.
Much of that credit goes to newly hired head coach J.B. Bickerstaff, who brought immediate structure, accountability, and belief into a young locker room. But the star of the show has been Cade Cunningham. After an injury-riddled season last year, Cunningham has blossomed into a true franchise player this year &mdash; a dual-threat scorer and facilitator who commands the game at his own pace. His decision-making has improved drastically, and he's showing why he was the No. 1 overall pick. Cunningham is here, and he&rsquo;s gunning for that star/superstar status.
Surrounding Cunningham, players like Jaden Ivey (even though he was injured) and Ausar Thompson have also taken noticeable steps forward, while big man Jalen Duren has anchored the middle with toughness and poise beyond his years. Detroit has also had key free agent signings that brought veteran presence in the locker room in Malik Beasley, Tim Hardaway Jr., and Tobias Harris. They have also picked up vet PG Dennis Schroder in a trade to help Cunningham with the ball-handling duties. Everything that Detroit has done was in order to come back and see this moment &ndash; to be back in the playoffs. It&rsquo;s not just that Detroit is winning &mdash; it&rsquo;s how they&rsquo;re doing it: through defense, selflessness, and maturity. They&rsquo;ve gone from laughingstock to legitimate in over a season, and it has been incredibly fun to watch.
Houston Rockets Previous season&rsquo;s record: 22-60 This season&rsquo;s record: 52-30, 2nd in the West
After four long and grueling seasons of rebuilding, the Houston Rockets are back &mdash; and better than ever. They&rsquo;ve clinched 50 wins for the first time since the James Harden era and have soared into the second seed in the loaded Western Conference. This transformation didn&rsquo;t happen overnight, but every move the Rockets made over the last four years has culminated in a roster that&rsquo;s deep, versatile, and hungry.
It started with the front office, who made smart picks in the draft: Alperen Sengun and Jalen Green in 2021, Jabari Smith Jr. and Tari Eason in 2022, Amen Thompson and Cam Whitmore in 2023, and Reed Sheppard in 2024. The result? A blend of high-upside talent that&rsquo;s matured quickly under the right guidance. And that guidance came in the form of Ime Udoka &mdash; the tough, defense-first head coach who has instilled discipline and identity from day one.
The Rockets also balanced their youth with veteran leadership. Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks were crucial free-agent signings, and the trade for Steven Adams added much-needed size and experience in the paint. Sengun has quietly become one of the most skilled bigs in the league, averaging near triple-double numbers with his passing and post play. Meanwhile, Jalen Green&rsquo;s shot selection and efficiency have improved, making him a more consistent offensive threat.
Everything is clicking in Houston, and the best part? They&rsquo;re still only scratching the surface. It&rsquo;s officially liftoff time in Houston, Texas.
Cleveland Cavaliers Previous season&rsquo;s record: 51-31 This season&rsquo;s record: 64-18, 1st in the East
It might sound strange to include a 50-win team in a list of surprises, but the Cleveland Cavaliers have surpassed what many expected from them &mdash; and in a completely new way. After losing to the Celtics in the second round last season, many believed Cleveland had plateaued, stuck in a tier below the East&rsquo;s elite. But the arrival of head coach Kenny Atkinson changed everything.
Atkinson brought more than just X&rsquo;s and O&rsquo;s to Cleveland &mdash; he brought vision. His innovative offensive schemes breathed new life into the team, particularly Evan Mobley. The former third overall pick has emerged as a true two-way force this year, expanding his offensive bag while remaining a defensive anchor. Mobley has become more comfortable operating as a playmaker, setting high screens, making short-roll reads, and even spacing the floor.
Donovan Mitchell remains the alpha, capable of carrying the offense during clutch moments. But with Darius Garland and Jarrett Allen playing supporting roles to perfection &mdash; and the perfect role players giving them a punch off the bench &mdash; the Cavaliers are deeper and more dangerous than ever. This is their best season since LeBron left, and it feels like they&rsquo;ve finally found a sustainable identity. They're not just winning games; they&rsquo;re playing like a team that believes it can win the East.
Los Angeles Clippers Previous season&rsquo;s record: 44-38 This season&rsquo;s record: 50-32, 5th in the West
No team entered the season with lower public expectations relative to their talent than the Los Angeles Clippers especially after Paul George left in free agency. The assumption was that LA&rsquo;s championship window had finally slammed shut. But instead of folding, the Clippers responded with a defiant, gritty, and unified season that caught the league off guard.
Kawhi Leonard returned healthy and dominant, looking like the MVP-caliber player of old. His midrange game has been clinical, and he&rsquo;s elevated his play on both ends as the postseason approaches. But perhaps the most shocking resurgence came from James Harden, who has turned back the clock and delivered one of his most efficient seasons in years. Harden has assumed full command of the offense, orchestrating everything with poise and flair while re-establishing himself as a top-tier guard in the league that could possibly fetch an All-NBA plum.
The supporting cast has been outstanding. Ivica Zubac has taken a huge leap, anchoring the Clippers&rsquo; defense and finishing strong around the rim. He&rsquo;s firmly in the Most Improved Player conversation. Norman Powell has been a revelation in an expanded role, consistently providing scoring and hustle. The &ldquo;addition by subtraction&rdquo; idea has rung true &mdash; with more touches and opportunities, Powell has been better than ever.
And of course, credit must go to Tyronn Lue, who has maximized every piece of this roster and turned what many assumed would be a rebuilding year into a redemption tour. The Clippers became this gritty and rugged defensive team that no one wants to meet in the playoffs. They might be underdogs, but they&rsquo;ve built something real.&nbsp;
&ndash; &ndash; &ndash;
These four teams &mdash; Detroit, Houston, Cleveland, and Los Angeles &mdash; entered the season with vastly different narratives. But they all share a common thread: they weren&rsquo;t supposed to be this good. Whether through internal growth, roster management, or coaching brilliance, each franchise has exceeded expectations in its own way.
The playoffs will be the true test, but what these teams have already accomplished is worth celebrating. In a league where dynasties often dominate headlines, it's stories like these that keep the NBA fresh, unpredictable, and thrilling year after year.

Discover how the Pistons, Rockets, Cavaliers, and Clippers have surpassed this season's expectations and rewrote their narratives.

Teams that have exceeded expectations this season

The Golden State Warriors have acquired All-Star forward Jimmy Butler from the Miami Heat as part of a complex four-team trade, according to ESPN&rsquo;s Shams Charania.
After a seemingly endless back and forth with Heat president Pat Riley, Butler finally gets moved to the Bay Area. Following the trade, Butler agreed to a two-year, $121 million contract extension, securing his tenure with the Warriors through the 2026-27 NBA season.&nbsp;
The two-month long saga between Jimmy Butler and the Heat will now end up in a trade to Golden State, one of his four initial preferred destinations -- and a new extension.
Trade Details:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Golden State Warriors Receive:</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<ul>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="2">Jimmy Butler (from Miami Heat)</li>
</ul>
</ul>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Miami Heat Receive:</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<ul>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="2">Andrew Wiggins (from Golden State Warriors)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="2">Kyle Anderson (from Golden State Warriors)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="2">P.J. Tucker (from Utah Jazz)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="2">2025 Protected first-round draft pick (from Golden State Warriors)</li>
</ul>
</ul>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Detroit Pistons Receive:</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<ul>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="2">Lindy Waters III (from Golden State Warriors)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="2">Josh Richardson (from Miami Heat)</li>
</ul>
</ul>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Utah Jazz Receive:</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li style="list-style-type: none;">
<ul>
<li style="list-style-type: none;">
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="2">Dennis Schr&ouml;der (from Golden State Warriors)</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
ANALYSIS: This trade for Butler aims to bolster Golden State's championship aspirations and bring help alongside Warriors superstar Stephen Curry. Butler, 35, has averaged 17.0 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game this season when healthy playing for the Heat.
This multi-team trade marks a significant moment for the Warriors as they made a decisive move to strengthen their lineup to gun for a playoff spot in the tough Western Conference. Curry finally gets the &ldquo;secondary star&rdquo; people have been clamoring for months, and it will be interesting to see how Butler fits with Golden State&rsquo;s offensive schemes.
The Miami Heat will acquire forward Andrew Wiggins, who has contributed 16.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game this season, along with Kyle Anderson, PJ Tucker, and a future protected first-round pick, signaling a strategic shift towards building around younger talent. Wiggins will join the promising core of newly-minted all-star Tyler Herro, Bam Adebayo, Nikola Jovic, Jaime Jaquez Jr., and Kel&rsquo;el Ware.
The Detroit Pistons also gain valuable assets in Lindy Waters III and Josh Richardson, two 3-and-D guys that can play alongside their star Cade Cunningham while the Utah Jazz get a vet in Dennis Schroder that could possibly be moved again for more draft compensation.

The Golden State Warriors have acquired All-Star forward Jimmy Butler from the Miami Heat as part of a complex four-team trade.

Jimmy Butler lands with Warriors in massive four-team trade

The Brooklyn Nets are heading in a new direction after trading Dennis Schr&ouml;der to the Golden State Warriors. Schr&ouml;der, known for his deliberate playstyle, ranked among the bottom ten slowest point guards in the league in terms of pace. His departure clears the way for Ben Simmons to take over as the full-time point guard, and head coach Jordi Fernandez is optimistic about the change.
&ldquo;Dennis was in the bottom ten slowest point guards in the NBA&mdash;pace doesn&rsquo;t mean you&rsquo;re better or worse&mdash;and Ben is 18th-fastest,&rdquo; Fernandez said. &ldquo;We&rsquo;re going to try to play faster. The ball is going to fly. He&rsquo;s going to push. He&rsquo;s going to throw it ahead.&rdquo;
This season, Simmons has quietly been putting together solid numbers, averaging 8.5 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 6.8 assists per game. While his scoring remains modest, his ability to facilitate and thrive in transition is what the Nets hope to capitalize on. Simmons has always shown flashes of brilliance as a lead ball-handler in his time with the Sixers, and now with the Nets committing to a faster pace, his skill set could be fully unlocked again.
The Nets currently hold a 12-15 record, leaving them outside the playoff picture but within striking distance of the play-in tournament. The shift to an up-tempo offense could be the spark they need. Simmons&rsquo; vision and passing in the open court may create more scoring opportunities for shooters like Cam Thomas and Cam Johnson. However, questions remain about his ability to stretch the floor and how opponents might exploit his lack of shooting in a half-court setting.
If the Nets can embrace this new identity and play to Simmons&rsquo; strengths, they could climb the standings and make a push for the Play-In Tournament spot.

The Brooklyn Nets are heading in a new direction after trading Dennis Schröder to the Golden State Warriors, via Ben Simmons.

Ben Simmons to lead Nets' “fast-paced” basketball in the post-Schroder era – Fernandez

Brooklyn Nets point guard Dennis Schroder will find his new home in the Bay Area after the Golden State Warriors traded for him in exchange for De&rsquo;Anthony Melton.
According to a report from ESPN&rsquo;s Shams Charania, Schroder and a 2nd round pick from the Nets are headed to the Warriors in exchange for Melton and three 2nd round picks.
Schroder has been productive for Brooklyn this season, averaging 18.4 points and 6.6 assists in 33.6 minutes played per game. He has helped the supposed-to-be tanking Nets team to a level of relevance and respect this year with a 10-15 record with just 4 games back from the 6th seed.
Schroder provides the extra scorer the Warriors need behind superstar Stephen Curry, who&rsquo;s trekking the season without a bonafide second star.
The Warriors made the move by sending out Melton, who tore his left ACL last month and is expected to be out the entire season.&nbsp;
Melton was playing well for Golden State, bringing in secondary ball-handling, shooting, and point-of-attack defense next to Curry in the backcourt.
"[It] changed everything," Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said. "De'Anthony was a guy who could help get us organized offensively as a secondary ball handler, pick-and-roll guy, but also be an on-ball defender, spot-up shooter. We're mixing and matching around his absence for sure.

Brooklyn Nets point guard Dennis Schroder will find his new home in the Bay Area after the Golden State Warriors traded for him.

Warriors acquire Dennis Schroder from Nets for De’Anthony Melton

LeBron James capped an impressive run to the Men&rsquo;s Olympic Basketball Tournament Paris 2024 title by taking home the Most Valuable Player award after leading the USA to their fifth straight gold medal.
James collected 14 points, 6 rebounds, 10 assists, and 2 steals in USA's 98-87 win over hosts France in the Gold Medal Game. The veteran averaged 14.2 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 8.5 assists per game in winning his third gold medal.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
⭐️ THE MVP OF <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Paris2024?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Paris2024</a> Men's <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Basketball?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Basketball</a> ⭐️ LeBron James, United States of America 🇺🇸 👑 <a href="https://t.co/7S6UWxvNPq">pic.twitter.com/7S6UWxvNPq</a>
&mdash; FIBA (@FIBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/FIBA/status/1822391504691675210?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 10, 2024</a>
<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
</blockquote>
The 39-year-old James was captivating the whole tournament. Perhaps his biggest highlight was registering his second triple-double in his Olympics career - and just the fourth of all-time - with 16 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists in USA's thrilling come-from-behind victory over Serbia in the Semi-Finals.
James was joined on the All-Star Five by USA teammate Stephen Curry, Victor Wembanyama of France, Nikola Jokic of Serbia, and Germany's Dennis Schroder.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
ALL-STAR FIVE of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Paris2024?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Paris2024</a> Men's <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Basketball?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Basketball</a> 🔸Dennis Schroder, Germany 🇩🇪 🔸Stephen Curry, USA 🇺🇸 🔸LeBron James, USA 🇺🇸 🔸Victor Wembanyama, France 🇫🇷 🔸Nikola Jokic, Serbia 🇷🇸 <a href="https://t.co/4cxZwzISTF">pic.twitter.com/4cxZwzISTF</a>
&mdash; FIBA (@FIBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/FIBA/status/1822392716518646077?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 10, 2024</a>
<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
</blockquote>
Curry came to life in the Semi-Finals with 9 three-pointers for 36 points and followed that with 8 three-pointers and 24 points in the Gold Medal Game. Playing in his first Olympics, Curry finished with 14.8 points on 47.8 percent three-point shooting, 3.2 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game.
Despite playing in his first Olympics at just 20 years old, Wembanyama led the French team in scoring with 15.8 points, rebounds at 9.7, assists at 3.3, steals with 2.0, and blocks with 1.7 per game. However, his 26 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 assists in the Gold Medal Game were not enough to beat USA.
Jokic highlighted his amazing run in France with a triple-double of 19 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists with 0 turnovers in Serbia's <a href="https://fiba.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7033084a6897e1c399b667eb5&amp;id=d70acb2736&amp;e=2fb0566584">93-83</a> win over Germany in the Bronze Medal Game. For the tournament, the three-time NBA MVP averaged 18.8 points, 10.7 rebounds, 8.7 assists, 2.0 steals, and 1.0 blocks per game in helping Serbia take home their second Olympic medal.
Schroder averaged 17.2 points, 2.5 rebounds, 7.5 assists, and 1.2 steals per game for the world champions Germany, who lost to Serbia in the Bronze Medal Game to finish fourth in their first appearance in the Semi-Finals.
The All-Second Team is comprised of some big names as well.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
All-Second Team of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Paris2024?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Paris2024</a> Men's <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Basketball?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Basketball</a> 🔸 Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Canada 🇨🇦 🔸 Bogdan Bogdanovic, Serbia 🇷🇸 🔸 Franz Wagner, Germany 🇩🇪 🔸 Guerschon Yabusele, France 🇫🇷 🔸 Giannis Antetokounmpo, Greece 🇬🇷 <a href="https://t.co/rMjOY1uonS">pic.twitter.com/rMjOY1uonS</a>
&mdash; FIBA (@FIBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/FIBA/status/1822404235272540221?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 10, 2024</a>
<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
</blockquote>
Shai Gilgeous Alexander helped Canada to a perfect 3-0 record in the Group Stage, but could not save the team against France in the Quarter-Finals. He averaged 21.0 points, 4.3 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.5 steals, and 1.3 blocks per game at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Bogdan Bogdanovic was the true captain Serbia needed to finish the tournament on the podium. Through six games, he had 18.3 points, and made 46.2 percent of his three-pointers, with 4.0 rebounds and 3.8 assists each night.
Franz Wagner represents Germany in the Second Team, being their top scorer with 18.5 points per game. He also had 5.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 2.0 steals at this event, proving he's already a game-changer, despite being just 22 years old.
The top scorer of the Olympics was Giannis Antetokounmpo. Greece's talisman leader got 25.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game, bringing the nation all the way from the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament to the Quarter-Finals in Paris.
The home crowd favorite made his way into the team, too. Guerschon Yabusele played an unforgettable elimination phase, getting 22 points against Canada in the Quarter-Finals, 17 against Germany in the Semis, and 20 against the USA in the Final.

LeBron James capped an impressive run to the Men’s Olympic Basketball title by taking home the MVP award.

Team USA’s LeBron James named FIBA Olympic MVP

Serbia recovered from a tough loss against Team USA in the semifinals to snag the bronze medal of the Paris 2024 Olympics after beating Germany, 83-73, at the Bercy Arena in Paris, France.&nbsp;
Serbia lost the semifinal game to the USA by just 4 points after leading for a staggering 35 minutes throughout the game. The Serbians vented their ire against Germany, the team they lost to in the FIBA World Cup championship game. That was without three-time NBA MVP for Serbia though, and this time with Jokic around, he was the difference against the Germans.&nbsp;
Jokic was brilliant from start to finish, collecting a triple-double stat line of 19 points, 12 rebounds, and 11 assists. NBA players Bogdan Bogdanovic and Vasilje Micic added 19 and 16 points respectively as Serbia dominated Germany thoroughly.&nbsp;
Franz Wagner led the fightback for the Germans with 18 points, 9 rebounds, and 4 assists while Moritz Wagner and Dennis Schroder added 16 and 13 points of their own.&nbsp;
Germany closes their summer 4th place &ndash; a huge achievement following their first-ever appearance at an Olympic semifinal. They are already the world champions and having yet another experience at high-stakes basketball only gives Germany the necessary experience needed to medal at the next version of the Games.
For Serbia, this is a redemption from their silver medal finish in the FIBA World Cup and after failing to finish on the podium in Tokyo 2020. Serbia already finished in 2nd place in 2016 against Team USA, and this bronze cements their place as one of the top basketball nations in the world.

Serbia recovered from a tough loss against USA to snag the bronze medal of the Paris 2024 Olympics after beating Germany, 83-73.

Serbia defeats Germany to claim Paris Olympics bronze

France gave everything they could in front of the home crowd in Paris and they delivered after overcoming reigning world champions Germany, 73-69, at the Bercy Arena in Paris, France for the 2024 Paris Olympics.&nbsp;
France once again fed off the energy from the loud crowd in Paris to eke out a win against a favored opponent for the second straight game. France notably defeated Canada who were filled with legit NBA talent from top to bottom in the quarterfinals, and now they beat the reigning world champions in Germany.&nbsp;
France started strong yet again with Guerschon Yabusele starting over Rudy Gobert. Yabusele provided the physicality inside to power through Germany&rsquo;s frontline en route to scoring 17 points and grabbing 7 rebounds. Isaia Cordinier, who also stepped up in the knockout rounds for France, backed him up with 16 points of his own
French phenom Victor Wembanyama struggled for a second straight game offensively with just 11 points on 4/17 shooting but he did have 7 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 blocks.
Dennis Schroder once again led the world champs&rsquo; attack with 18 points but he shot just 6/18 from the field and missed one crucial free throw at the end that would have cut the lead to just one. Franz Wagner, who was the Germans&rsquo; leading scorer against Canada with 26 points, only scored 10 points against a tough and tall French frontline.
France will now await the winner of the USA-Serbia matchup for their opponents in the gold medal match.

France gave everything they could in front of the home crowd in Paris and they delivered after overcoming Germany, 73-69.

France overcomes Germany to enter Olympic gold medal game

Reigning World champion Germany and hosts France will square off once again but this time in a bigger stage as the heavyweight matchup draws another chapter in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.&nbsp;
The Germans and the French have faced each other in the group stage over at Group B where Germany won handily, 85-71. NBA duo Franz Wagner and Dennis Schroder led the way for Germany as they stifled a France team eager to play in front of their home fans in Lille. The Germans punished the French on both ends of the floor in that game, capitalizing on misses and converting on easy transition points in the fastbreak.&nbsp;
That led to Germany finishing first in the group and facing Greece in the quarterfinals, winning 76-63. France ended up taking second in the group and matched up against a tougher Canada side with an NBA-laden roster. However, with the help of an active and energetic crowd in Paris, France rode the momentum to upset the Canadians 82-73 and set up a rematch against Germany.
This French crowd may just be the difference for France in this rematch vs Germany.&nbsp;
Key storylines to watch out for
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Victor Wembanyama&rsquo;s bounce back game</li>
</ul>
Victor Wembanyama played an ugly game vs Canada with his usual standards, only having 7 points on just 2/10 FG and 0/6 from three. Wemby struggled to find his offense all game long, missing mostly on wide open shots that he usually makes. He did, however, make a crucial defensive play with under 3 minutes to go by blocking a shot which eventually turned into an Evan Fournier dagger from 40 ft to push France&rsquo;s lead to 10. That is usually where Wembanyama&rsquo;s excellence is ramified &ndash; on the defensive end of the floor. Much is to be said for the highly-touted French phenom, but he absolutely cannot play like he did against Canada if France wants to win vs the reigning world champions. That said, it can be expected Wemby bounces back big-time one way or another.&nbsp;
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Rudy Gobert&rsquo;s minutes</li>
</ul>
In a bold move, France head coach Vincent Collet opted to bring the NBA center off the bench for better matchups against Canada &ndash; and it worked superbly well. Guerschon Yabusele started in Gobert&rsquo;s place and eventually earned the player of the game honors with 22 points. Yabusele was the driving force of France&rsquo;s attack as he attacked the paint with his aggressiveness. His added scoring punch compared to Gobert&rsquo;s playing style helped France get the lead early and never relinquished it until the end.
Against Germany, it will be interesting to see how Gobert acclimates himself and makes himself usable. The Germans have a strong frontline that fits well with each other alongside Franz Wagner and Schroder&rsquo;s relentless attacking of the rim. Perhaps Gobert will make himself valuable on the defensive side of the floor as France will need all the help they can get on defense with Germany&rsquo;s incredible offense.
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Germany against Paris, France, and the world</li>
</ul>
Despite being the reigning world champions, pressure will be on against Germany to perform on the biggest stage in front of a hostile crowd in Paris. The French will have the crowd on their side and it could be the difference in a game like this. This would be Germany&rsquo;s first-ever Olympic semifinal appearance in the nation&rsquo;s history, so it will be interesting to see if they can hold off the pressure and perform with the highest stakes. They will need every bit of Franz Wagner, Dennis Schroder, and the rest of the world champion-winning roster to stave off a tough challenge from Victor Wembanyama and France, who are also looking to enter the gold medal match as hosts in these Olympics.&nbsp;

Reigning World champion Germany and hosts France will square off once again but this time in a bigger stage.

Paris 2024 semifinals preview: Hosts France take on World champs Germany

Reigning world champion Germany ousted Greece in a wild comeback to win 76-63 and advance to their first-ever Olympics semifinals at the Bercy Arena in Paris, France.
After falling behind early in the 1st quarter, Germany used their familiarity and chemistry with each other to chip back into the lead. Led by FIBA MVP Dennis Schroder and rising NBA star Franz Wagner, the Germans closed the gap by halftime and eventually took the lead in the 3rd quarter to take control until the end of the game.&nbsp;
Wagner had 18 points to lead Germany while Schroder added 13 as they now await the other semi final pairing in France vs Canada for their opponent in the semis. Giannis Antetokounmpo had yet another brilliant performance for the Greeks by having 22 points on 9/14 shooting, but it was not enough against the world champs and their vaunted team chemistry that was built for months and years.&nbsp;
Greece leaned on their three-point shooting early to stifle Germany, as the latter could not hit their shots early on, leading to the early deficit.&nbsp;
However, Germany locked in on defense from the second quarter and beyond which allowed them to leak out for easy baskets to get their rhythm and in turn make their shots on offense. This allowed Germany to put on the run and never looked back from that point on.

Reigning world champion Germany ousted Greece in a wild comeback to win 76-63, advance to first-ever Olympics semifinals.

Germany beats Greece to advance to Olympics semis

The matchups for the 2024 Paris Olympics Basketball Tournament are set as the top-ranked national teams in the world gun for gold. Here are all the matchups in the knockout rounds:&nbsp;
Germany vs Greece
The Germans will bring their world championship pedigree against Greece and NBA superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo as both teams clash for a semis spot. Germany, led by FIBA MVP Dennis Schroder and rising NBA star Franz Wagner, are ready to stake their claim for the Olympics&rsquo; gold medal. They will be met by a hungry Antetokounmpo and his Greece squad that just barely snuck into the quarterfinals. Despite the overwhelming advantage by the Germans, Giannis and Greece are a team to watch out for especially if their shooters get hot and Antetokounmpo dominates the inside game.&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Men's <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Basketball?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Basketball</a> Quarter-Finals start with a banger 🔥 Germany 🇩🇪 v 🇬🇷 Greece, who do you got? <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Paris2024?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Paris2024</a> <a href="https://t.co/N6mv5StwR7">pic.twitter.com/N6mv5StwR7</a>
&mdash; FIBA (@FIBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/FIBA/status/1820671140622385209?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 6, 2024</a>
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Serbia vs Australia
Led by their ageless wonder Patty Mills, Australia comes into the game vs Serbia as huge underdogs facing perhaps the best player in the world right now in 3-time MVP Nikola Jokic. This will be the second time the two squads will meet this summer after facing each other in the USA Basketball Showcase in Abu Dhabi. Australia ended up winning that game 84-73, and now with a semis spot on the line, expect Serbia to up the intensity and strike revenge against the Boomers. Jokic alongside co-stars Bogdan Bogdanovic and Vasilje Micic could have something up their sleeves in this matchup vs Australia to try and win the game.
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Oh, this will be fun. 😈 Serbia 🇷🇸 v 🇦🇺 Australia will clash for semi-finals!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Paris2024?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Paris2024</a> x <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Basketball?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Basketball</a> <a href="https://t.co/T4JmyFyMIT">pic.twitter.com/T4JmyFyMIT</a>
&mdash; FIBA (@FIBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/FIBA/status/1820686238501969965?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 6, 2024</a>
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France vs Canada
In perhaps the marquee matchup of the day, two basketball superpowers collide in the quarterfinals of the Paris 2024 Olympics when France and Canada face each other for a semis slot. This colossal matchup happened when France lost to Germany for the top spot in Group B, ending up facing the 3rd best team in point differential in Canada. Stars will be all around in this matchup, with Canada&rsquo;s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and RJ Barrett looking to spoil the fun in Paris while France&rsquo;s very own Victor Wembanyama wants to lead his home country to a gold medal.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Potentially... "that game from <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Paris2024?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Paris2024</a>" 🍿 France 🇫🇷 v 🇨🇦 Canada is a must-watch today!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Basketball?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Basketball</a> <a href="https://t.co/iI4gPKJXgf">pic.twitter.com/iI4gPKJXgf</a>
&mdash; FIBA (@FIBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/FIBA/status/1820701342777929784?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 6, 2024</a>
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USA vs Brazil
Team USA enters this matchup as humongous favorites but make no mistake: Brazil will not come into the game just to hand the win over to their North American neighbors. Even at 41, Marcelo Huertas still leads this team with his steady play at the PG position. Along with capable teammates Bruno Caboclo, Leo Meindl, and Vitor Benite, Brazil looks to crash the Americans&rsquo; presumably party even before the game starts. Of course, Team USA is bannered by the best players in the world on their way to obtaining their 5th straight Olympic gold medal. Some may even say all the other 7 teams are just competing for silver and bronze behind the USA&rsquo;s presumed gold. We&rsquo;ll see what happens when Team USA&rsquo;s quest for gold starts vs Brazil.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Two countries from Americas, one semi-final spot. 🔥 Brazil 🇧🇷 v 🇺🇸 USA will be a box-office in Paris.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Paris2024?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Paris2024</a> x <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Basketball?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Basketball</a> <a href="https://t.co/YdOuuZmE37">pic.twitter.com/YdOuuZmE37</a>
&mdash; FIBA (@FIBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/FIBA/status/1820716441340960891?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 6, 2024</a>
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The matchups for the 2024 Paris Olympics Basketball Tournament are set as the top-ranked national teams in the world gun for gold.

Top national teams collide in Paris 2024 Olympics quarterfinals

Reigning World Champions Germany showed what they&rsquo;re made of after beating host team France, 85-71, to take Group B&rsquo;s top spot at the Paris 2024 Olympics basketball tournament in Lille, France.&nbsp;
Germany showed France why they won the FIBA World Cup last year and became world champions in a masterclass performance. The Germans outplayed the French in virtually every facet of the game, including rebounds, assists, steals, points off turnovers, and points in the paint.&nbsp;
Germany erected a lead as high as 24 points, 57-33, as they poured it on in the third. Rising NBA star Franz Wagner had a huge highlight when he slammed over three French defenders, drawing ohs and ahs from the crowd and his teammates alike. France had no answers to Germany&rsquo;s attack with point guard Dennis Schroder surgically operating France&rsquo;s vaunted twin tower defense Victor Wembanyama and Rudy Gobert.
France found some life in the 4th quarter behind unsung bench hero Isaia Cordinier scoring 10 huge points, including crowd-hyping dunks and show-stopping hustle plays. The French cut the lead to just 10 points until Schroder and Isaac Bonga settled things down for Germany to take the victory.&nbsp;
Wagner and Schroder were incredible for the World Champions, both scoring 26 points to lead the Germans&rsquo; attack. Meanwhile, French phenom Wembanyama once again led the team with 14 points and 12 rebounds, however, he had crucial turnovers that led to momentum-shifting plays for Germany.&nbsp;
With the win, Germany will end up 1st in Group B while France finishes second. Germany will now face Greece in the quarterfinals while France will draw Canada in another heavyweight matchup for the hosts.

Reigning World Champions Germany showed what they’re made of after beating host team France to take Group B’s top spot.

Germany takes down France in heavyweight matchup to claim Group B

Day 2 of the Paris 2024 Olympics playdate for its basketball tournament saw teams having contrast results in their pursuit of a quarter finals berth. Here&rsquo;s how the games went:
Spain 84, Greece 77
Spain shocked Greece and the whole world with their huge win despite being huge underdogs. The Spaniards stole the game despite the heroics of NBA and Greece superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo, who had 27 points, 11 rebounds, and 4 assists. Spain had a collective team effort led by Memphis Grizzly Santi Aldama with 19 points while veteran duo Sergio Llull and Rudy Fernandez gave Spain a boost off the bench, scoring 23 points amongst themselves. The win by Spain was crucial in Group A as they now strengthen their claim to earn a quarterfinal spot.&nbsp;
France 94, Japan 90
France narrowly escaped Japan, 94-90, following a huge scare throughout the second half. Riding on the momentum brought by pint-sized point guard Yuki Kawamura, the Japanese stormed to a second half lead over the hosts. Lakers forward Rui Hachimura also played well for Japan, scoring 24 points, however was ejected on a controversial unsportsmanlike foul call. Japan led by 4 with under a minute to go before Matthew Strazel saved Les Bleus on a huge 4-point play (albeit being controversial) to send the game into overtime. From then on, French phenom Victor Wembanyama took over the game on both ends to save France from embarrassment and lead them to the victory.
Germany 86, Brazil 73
Germany made quick work of Brazil, never wasting time in defeating them. The reigning FIBA World Cup champions led from start to finish and dominated the game on both ends. Although Brazil took the lead briefly in the 2nd quarter, that was as close as they could get as Germany displayed the poise and consistency they have been playing for the past year to take back the lead and never looked back again. 4 players scored in double figures for the Germans in a team effort, led by Dennis Schroder&rsquo;s 20 followed by Franz Wagner&rsquo;s 17.
Canada 93, Australia 83
Canada disposed of Australia after trailing at halftime, taking over the game and in effect taking the top spot in Group A, the group of death in this year&rsquo;s Olympic Games. Thunder superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was ultra-efficient for the Canadians, scoring 16 points on 8/10 shooting while RJ Barrett led Canada in scoring with 24 points. SGA&rsquo;s former teammate Josh Giddey starred for the Boomers with 19 points but was not able to sustain the lead all game long as they succumbed to Canada&rsquo;s pesky perimeter defense in the second half. Australia is now in danger of missing the quarterfinals all along with Spain&rsquo;s huge win over Greece.&nbsp;
Serbia 107, Puerto Rico 66
After suffering a blowout defeat to tournament favorites USA the other day, Serbia vented its ire on Puerto Rico and handed them a blowout of their own, 107-66. Serbia took care of business from start to finish, never letting up for a single moment. NBA MVP Nikola Jokic was splendid for the Serbians after he posted a near triple-double statline of 14 points, 15 rebounds, and 9 assists. Serbia will now go into their match against Puerto Rico with Group C&rsquo;s second place at stake while Puerto Rico drops out of the competition ahead of its game against Team USA.

Day 2 of the Paris 2024 Olympics playdate for its basketball tournament saw teams having contrast results.

Paris 2024 Olympics Day 2: Spain, France escape; Canada, Germany, Serbia run away

The Paris 2024 Olympics Basketball Tournament is now underway and each of these teams has registered opening day victories after taking care of their scheduled matches. Here are the results thus far:
Australia 92, Spain 80
Australia beat Spain after a close game in the third quarter after Patty Mills made a clutch bucket in the 4th quarter to keep them at bay. NBA guards Josh Giddey and Dyson Daniels were splendid for the Boomers to get their first win in the &lsquo;Group of Death&rsquo;.
Germany 97, Japan 77
The Germans showed once again why they are the World Champions of Basketball as they displayed stellar continuity to take care of business against Japan. Dennis Schroder with the Wagner brothers led the way for Germany in their first win of the Olympics.
France 78, Brazil 66
France survived a challenge from Brazil early on with phenom Victor Wembanyama leading the way to claim the hosts&rsquo; first win.
Canada 86, Greece 79
All-NBAers Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Giannis Antetokounmpo went on an insane duel in their Olympic debuts with SGA and Canada coming out on top over Greece in a hard-fought game.
South Sudan 90, Puerto Rico 79
Youngest country in the world South Sudan made history as they tallied their first-ever Olympic win in their first-ever Olympics, beating Puerto Rico which also happens to be searching for their first-ever Olympic win.

The Paris 2024 Olympics is now underway and each team of these teams has registered opening day victories.

Australia, Germany, France, Canada, South Sudan register opening day Olympic wins

NBA players LeBron James, Dennis Schroder, and Giannis Antetokounmpo have made history as their nation&rsquo;s official flag bearers at the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics.
The Lakers&rsquo; James, Nets&rsquo; Schroder, and Bucks&rsquo; Antetokounmpo were the standard bearers for the USA, Germany, and Greece respectively. Among all the athletes representing their countries, these NBA players were selected and given the honor to raise their flags while the opening ceremony went on at the River Seine.
It was the first time in each country&rsquo;s history that basketball players were selected as flag bearers, and it was a huge honor for James, Schroder, and Antetokounmpo.
Giannis and Greece are situated in Group A in the Olympics&rsquo; Basketball Tournament alongside Canada, Australia, and Spain in what figures out to be the &lsquo;Group of Death&rsquo;.
Schroder and reigning World Champions Germany is in Group B with hosts France, Brazil, and Japan while James&rsquo; Team USA is in Group C with Serbia, South Sudan, and Puerto Rico.
All three will see action starting July 27 when the Paris 2024 Olympics Basketball Tournament gets underway at the Pierre de Mauroy Stadium in Lille, France for the qualification rounds and the quarterfinals to the medal rounds at Bercy Arena in Paris.

NBA players James, Schroder, and Antetokounmpo have made history as their nation’s official flag bearers at the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics.

LeBron James, Dennis Schroder, Giannis Antetokounmpo make history as flag bearers

The USA Men&rsquo;s National Basketball Team has completed the USA Basketball Showcase in London, UK on a high note as it prepares to battle the best of the best in the world at the Paris Olympics.
Team USA narrowly beat South Sudan 101-100 after the South Sudanese caught fire from beyond the arc led by Marial Shayok&rsquo;s 6 threes. Team USA then escaped Germany with the German side playing like the collective team that they are, being the world champions just over a year ago in the FIBA World Cup 2023.
Both results had similar themes revolving around them after 39-year-old LeBron James put on his cape to play hero for the United States, bringing Team USA home for both victories. James provided clutch baskets in the game vs South Sudan, scoring on a go-ahead layup that put the USA up for good. James then scored 11 points in the 4th quarter to close a pesky German team that was coming from all angles led by FIBA World Cup MVP Dennis Schroder.
Team USA&rsquo;s Women&rsquo;s Basketball Team also scored a win against the Germans in their own exhibition game and they were led by WNBA MVP candidates A&rsquo;Ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart.&nbsp;
Both the Men&rsquo;s and Women&rsquo;s Basketball teams will now head on to France for the start of their respective campaigns in their pursuit of gold at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

The USA Men’s National Basketball Team has completed the USA Basketball Showcase in London, UK on a high note.

After a fruitful showcase in London, Team USA heads on to Paris for the Olympics

Spencer Dinwiddie will sign with the Los Angeles Lakers after clearing waivers, according to <a href="https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Athletic's Shams Charania</a>.
Dinwiddie and his agent, Jason Glushon, attended last night's Lakers game and sat with general manager Rob Pelinka, sparking rumors that the 6-foot-5 guard was close to joining Los Angeles.
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LA native Spencer Dinwiddie watching the LAL-NOP game with Lakers vice president of basketball ops &amp; GM Rob Pelinka👀 Dinwiddie is a free agent after being waived by the Raptors. He also met with Mavs' Mark Cuban yesterday. <a href="https://t.co/e1jt7Tr05b">pic.twitter.com/e1jt7Tr05b</a>
&mdash; BasketballNews.com (@basketbllnews) <a href="https://twitter.com/basketbllnews/status/1756176155798118500?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 10, 2024</a></blockquote>

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Dinwiddie, 30, was recently traded from the Brooklyn Nets to the Toronto Raptors for Dennis Schroder but was subsequently waived. He&rsquo;s currently averaging 12.6 points and 6 assists in 48 games for the Nets.&nbsp;
His free-agency decision came down to the Lakers and Dallas Mavericks.
Signing Dinwiddie makes sense for the Lakers, who are looking for additional guard play with reserve point guard Gabe Vincent still out. Dinwiddie&rsquo;s playmaking and secondary scoring will help Los Angeles as they look to make a playoff push.

Spencer Dinwiddie is expected to sign with the Los Angeles Lakers after clearing waivers.

Spencer Dinwiddie to join Los Angeles Lakers after clearing waivers

In the first major move of the 2023-24 NBA season, the Toronto Raptors have <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/knicks-acquire-og-anunoby-in-blockbuster-trade-with-raptors" target="_blank" rel="noopener">dealt</a> OG Anunoby to the New York Knicks in exchange for RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley and a 2024 second-round pick. Along with Anunoby, the Knicks will also receive Precious Achiuwa and Malachi Flynn.
Here are some takeaways from this blockbuster trade.&nbsp;
Immanuel Quickley&rsquo;s imminent rise
Perhaps the player who benefits most from this deal is Immanuel Quickley. The 24-year-old will now be the lead guard for a Raptors team lacking a reliable point guard. Scottie Barnes has been slotted in the position at times to take some of the pressure off of Dennis Schroder, who was recently brought off the bench.&nbsp;
Like former Kentucky teammate Tyrese Maxey, Quickley has shown flashes of taking that leap as the main point guard with some good performances with the Knicks. He is one of the best scoring options off the bench in the NBA, currently averaging 15 points per game in just 24 minutes. Now, Quickley will get to do it for Toronto and earn a big payday, as New York probably wasn't willing to pay him this offseason since he plays the same position as Jalen Brunson.
RJ Barrett&rsquo;s homecoming
Another storyline to watch in this trade is RJ Barrett returning to play for his hometown.&nbsp;
Born and raised in Toronto, Barrett has been solid for the Knicks, averaging 18.1 points per game over his five-year career. The 6-foot-6 lefty is poised to bring his consistent play to the Raptors and contribute alongside Barnes.
Moreover, Barrett will finally get to play in his home country, where he once led Canada to a huge victory over heavy favorites USA in the FIBA U19 in 2017, contributing 38 points, 13 rebounds and 5 assists.&nbsp;
Will OG Anunoby re-sign with the Knicks?
On paper, the Knicks have a solid eight-man playoff rotation now, which could give the East some problems.&nbsp;
However, this might not be the year for New York to make a title run, as Mitchell Robinson has been ruled out for the season. And so the question remains: Will Anunoby stay with the Knicks after this season? 
The 6-foot-7 wing will likely ask for around $40 million per year as reported, which seems like a lot for a player in his role. But then again, it's possible the Knicks knew what Anunoby would cost prior to making this deal and felt comfortable with it given that Anunoby is represented by CAA.
Precious Achiuwa&rsquo;s value for the Knicks
With Robinson out for the season (and possibly the playoffs), backup big Isaiah Hartenstein is now starting for the squad. Taj Gibson, one of Tom Thibodeau&rsquo;s former players, was signed to fill in and provide depth, but he's been underwhelming thus far.
Enter Precious Achiuwa.&nbsp;
Possibly an underrated pickup in this deal, the stretch big is another body that Thibs could use come playoff time. Achiuwa is a 6-foot-8, 225-pound center/forward who is physical and has a decent shot. He will add a different dimension to the Knicks&rsquo; bench as a floor spacer at the 5 position, depending on how he will be used on offense.

Following Saturday's blockbuster trade between the Knicks and Raptors, here are four takeaways.

4 takeaways from the Knicks-Raptors OG Anunoby trade

NBA free agency has died down and the 2023-24 NBA season is nearly three months away. This is why August is known as the dog days of the NBA calendar.
However, NBA fans will be able to watch some of their favorite players in action very soon, as the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup tips off tomorrow.
From Nov. 2021 through Feb. 2023, 80 countries battled for a spot in the World Cup but only 32 national teams qualified. There are a ton of NBA players participating, as Team USA has a talented young roster and they'll be facing stars such as Luka Doncic, Karl-Anthony Towns, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Lauri Markkanen and Rudy Gobert.
Here's everything you need to know about the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup.
WHEN IS IT?
World Cup games will be played Aug. 25 through Sept. 10. There have been a number of warm-up games in recent weeks, but the real action tips off tomorrow.
First Round (Group Phase): Aug. 25-30 Second Round (Group Phase): Aug. 31 - Sept. 4 Quarterfinals: Sept. 5-6 Semifinals: Sept. 8 Final: Sept. 10 Third-Place Game: Sept. 10
The <a href="https://www.nba.com/news/fiba-basketball-world-cup-2023-schedule" target="_blank" rel="noopener">full schedule of games can be found here</a>.
WHERE IS IT?&nbsp;
For the first time ever, the FIBA Basketball World Cup will feature three host countries: the Philippines, Japan and Indonesia.
WHICH COUNTRIES QUALIFIED?
These are the 32 countries that will be participating in the 2023 FIBA World Cup: Angola, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Cape Verde, China, Cote d&rsquo;Ivoire, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Iran, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Mexico, Montenegro, New Zealand, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Serbia, Slovenia, South Sudan, Spain, United States and Venezuela.
These are the groups for the first round:
Group A:&nbsp;Angola, Dominican Republic, Philippines, Italy
Group B:&nbsp;&nbsp;South Sudan, Serbia, China, Puerto Rico
(Groups A and B will play their games at Araneta Coliseum in the Philippines)
Group C:&nbsp;Team USA, Jordan, Greece, New Zealand
Group D:&nbsp;Egypt, Mexico, Montenegro, Lithuania
(Groups C and D will play their games at Mall of Asia Arena in the Philippines)
Group E:&nbsp;Germany, Finland, Australia, Japan
Group F:&nbsp;Slovenia, Cape Verde, Georgia, Venezuela
(Groups E and F will play their games at Okinawa Arena in Japan)
Group G:&nbsp;Iran, Spain, Cote d&rsquo;Ivoire, Brazil
Group H:&nbsp;Canada, Latvia, Lebanon, France
(Groups G and H will play their games at Jakarta Arena in Indonesia)
WHICH NBA PLAYERS ARE COMPETING?
There are quite a few NBA players participating in this tournament. The <a href="https://www.nba.com/news/fiba-world-cup-roster-tracker-2023" target="_blank" rel="noopener">full list can be found here</a>, but below are the national teams that feature notable NBA players:
Group A
Dominican Republic: Karl-Anthony Towns (Minnesota Timberwolves), Lester Quinones (Golden State Warriors)
Philippines: Jordan Clarkson&nbsp;(Utah Jazz)
Group B
China: Kyle Anderson&nbsp;(Minnesota Timberwolves)
Serbia: Bogdan Bogdanovic (Atlanta Hawks), Aleksej Pokusevski (Oklahoma City Thunder), Nikola Jovic (Miami Heat)
Group C
Greece: Thanasis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks)
<img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/gettyimages-1608113478-2.jpg" alt="" width="736" height="414" />
United States: Paolo Banchero (Orlando Magic), Mikal Bridges (Brooklyn Nets), Jalen Brunson (New York Knicks), Anthony Edwards (Minnesota Timberwolves), Tyrese Haliburton (Indiana Pacers), Josh Hart (New York Knicks), Brandon Ingram (New Orleans Pelicans), Jaren Jackson Jr. (Memphis Grizzlies), Cameron Johnson (Brooklyn Nets), Walker Kessler (Utah Jazz), Bobby Portis (Milwaukee Bucks), Austin Reaves (Los Angeles Lakers)

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Group D
Lithuania: Jonas Valanciunas (New Orleans Pelicans)
Montenegro: Nikola Vucevic (Chicago Bulls)
Group E
Australia: Josh Giddey (Oklahoma City Thunder), Patty Mills (Atlanta Hawks), Matisse Thybulle (Portland Trail Blazers) Josh Green (Dallas Mavericks), Joe Ingles (Orlando Magic), Dyson Daniels (New Orleans Pelicans), Dante Exum (Dallas Mavericks), Jock Landale (Houston Rockets), Xavier Cooks (Washington Wizards)
Finland: Lauri Markkanen (Utah Jazz)
Germany: Franz Wagner (Orlando Magic), Dennis Schroder (Toronto Raptors), Moritz Wagner (Orlando Magic), Daniel Theis (Indiana Pacers),&nbsp;
Japan: Yuta Watanabe (Phoenix Suns)
Group F
Georgia: Goga Bitadze (Orlando Magic), Sandro Mamukelashvili (San Antonio Spurs)
Slovenia: Luka Doncic (Dallas Mavericks)
Group G
Brazil: Raul Neto (Cleveland Cavaliers)
Spain: Santi Aldama (Memphis Grizzlies), Usman Garuba (Atlanta Hawks)
Group H
Canada: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City Thunder), R.J. Barrett (New York Knicks), Dillon Brooks (Houston Rockets), Lu Dort (Oklahoma City Thunder), Nickeil Alexander-Walker (Minnesota Timberwolves), Dwight Powell (Dallas Mavericks)
France: Rudy Gobert (Minnesota Timberwolves), Nicolas Batum (Los Angeles Clippers), Evan Fournier (New York Knicks), Frank Ntilikina (Charlotte Hornets)
Latvia: Davis Bertans (Oklahoma City Thunder)
HOW TO WATCH
FIBA recently announced that all 92 World Cup games will be available across ESPN's platforms. Six games will air on ESPN2 (including Team USA's three first-round games), while the other 86 games will be available on ESPN+.
FIBA&rsquo;s official streaming service, <a href="https://www.courtside1891.basketball/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Courtside 1891</a>, will also air the games live and on-demand. If you're interested in Courtside 1891, FIBA is offering our readers 20% off their World Cup bundle. Follow the instructions below if you'd like to use the 20% discount:
<ul style="font-weight: 400;">
<li><a href="https://www.courtside1891.basketball/choose-a-package" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Click this link</a> and you&rsquo;ll get a prompt to register</li>
<li>You&rsquo;ll then be redirected to the choose-a-package page</li>
<li>Select the &lsquo;Max &ndash; World Cup Bundle&rsquo;&nbsp;</li>
<li>Use the discount code FIBAWCAK to get 20% off</li>
</ul>
Enjoy the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup, and hopefully the dog days of summer will fly by quickly!

The 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup tips off tomorrow. Here's everything you need to know about the tournament.

Everything you need to know about the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup

Fred VanVleet bet on himself, and the Houston Rockets are the beneficiaries.
On an opening night of free agency where most big names &mdash; Kyrie Irving, Draymond Green, Khris Middleton, Kyle Kuzma and more &mdash; stayed put, VanVleet is headed to a new home. He agreed to a three-year deal Friday with the Rockets that&rsquo;ll pay him about $130 million, a person with knowledge of the negotiations told The Associated Press.
ESPN first reported the agreement between VanVleet and the Rockets.
VanVleet &mdash; who famously uses the phrase &ldquo;bet on yourself&rdquo; to describe his career trajectory from undrafted player to NBA champion with the Toronto Raptors &mdash; will make about $525,000 per game over the next three seasons.
That nearly matches what he made as a rookie in Toronto, total &mdash; about $550,000.
&ldquo;Love seeing guys getting paid,&rdquo; Boston star Jayson Tatum tweeted.
And a whole bunch of them did on Friday night &mdash; with more to come.
Irving and Luka Doncic are going to try again together in Dallas. Green is going to chase more championships with Stephen Curry in Golden State, just like Middleton is alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo in Milwaukee.
And Jerami Grant is staying put in Portland, for serious money. All those decisions came quickly Friday night as free agency in the NBA got off to its traditional fast and free-spending start &mdash; with roughly $1.5 billion in deals getting struck in about the first three hours alone.
Irving agreed to a three-year, $126 million deal to remain with the Mavericks, who acquired him in a splashy move in February but sputtered down the stretch and missed the playoffs. A person with knowledge of the negotiations confirmed the agreement to The Associated Press, the deal taking quite possibly the biggest name in free agency off the board.
The Mavs had made clear that keeping Irving was their top priority &mdash; and got it done in the first hour of the NBA&rsquo;s free agency window that opened at 6 p.m. EDT.
&ldquo;DA11AS,&rdquo; Irving tweeted, using his traditional jersey number in there.
Grant is getting $160 million over the next five years, part of a plan that Portland hopes keeps Damian Lillard happy enough to not ask for a trade. Grant is staying put, as is Kuzma in Washington and Cam Johnson in Brooklyn.
Kuzma essentially doubled his annual salary, agreeing to a $102 million, four-year deal with the Wizards. Green got a new contract that&rsquo;ll pay him $100 million over four seasons with the Warriors. Both of those deals &mdash; first reported by ESPN and subsequently confirmed to AP by people with knowledge of the negotiations &mdash; got done very quickly once the offseason player movement window opened.
Kuzma had opted out of a contract that would have paid him $13 million in Washington this coming season; he&rsquo;ll now average $25.5 million over the next four years after scoring 21.2 points per game this past season.
Green staying put keeps him alongside Curry and Klay Thompson with the Warriors, where they have won four titles over the last decade. He opted out of a $27.6 million contract for this coming season, and now is under contract for more years.
Middleton also traded bigger salary in the short term for more years. He could have made $40 million this coming season; instead, he agreed to $102 million over three years to stay with Antetokounmpo and a Bucks team that&rsquo;s only two years removed from an NBA championship.
Johnson &mdash; who flourished and averaged 16.6 points in 25 games with Brooklyn after getting traded there this past season &mdash; is getting a four-year, $108 million deal from the Nets, agent Steve Heumann of CAA confirmed to AP. New Orleans also saw one of its key players stay put; defensive standout Herb Jones agreed to a four-year, $54 million contract.
The reigning NBA champion Denver Nuggets lost a free agent they wanted to keep, with Bruce Brown agreeing to sign with Indiana, a person with knowledge told AP, on a two-year deal that could be worth $45 million. There is an option affecting the second year.
There was simply nothing the Nuggets could do to compete with that offer &mdash; they could only offer Brown $7.8 million for this season. Brown will average nearly three times that much over the next two years.
The team that Denver beat for that title, the Miami Heat, also lost a key player from their club. Gabe Vincent agreed to a three-year, $33 million deal to join LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers &mdash; who went to the Western Conference finals before falling to the Nuggets. The Lakers also kept Rui Hachimura on a three-year deal worth about $50 million.
The Eastern Conference champion Heat are retaining Kevin Love &mdash; who quickly became a locker room leader after arriving in Miami &mdash; and brought back former Miami guard Josh Richardson. Love is getting $3.7 million this season; both he and Richardson have an option for 2024-25 as well.
Meanwhile, Rookie of the Year Paolo Banchero has a new veteran with him in Orlando; Joe Ingles agreed to a two-year, $22 million deal to join the Magic. And Tre Jones will sign a two-year, $20 million deal with the San Antonio Spurs to play alongside No. 1 pick Victor Wembanyama, agent Kevin Bradbury said.
And once VanVleet picked Houston, the Raptors moved quickly to fill their point guard opening and agreed with Dennis Schroder on a two-year, $26 million deal, according to his representation at Priority Sports. Another point guard was on the move not long afterward; 2011 NBA MVP Derrick Rose agreed to a deal with Memphis &mdash; the city where he played his one season of college basketball &mdash; in a deal first reported by SNY.

Day 1 of the 2023 NBA free-agency period is in the books. Here's a look at the big moves from Friday.

Fred VanVleet to Houston; many big names stay put early in NBA free agency

LOS ANGELES (AP) &mdash; LeBron James had 30 points and 10 rebounds, and the Los Angeles Lakers claimed the seventh spot in the Western Conference playoffs with a grueling 108-102 overtime victory over the short-handed Minnesota Timberwolves in the NBA&rsquo;s play-in tournament Tuesday night.
Dennis Schr&ouml;der scored 21 points and iced the win with two free throws with 8.4 seconds left for the Lakers, who will face second-seeded Memphis in the first round starting Sunday.
Karl-Anthony Towns scored 24 points and Mike Conley hit three free throws with 0.1 seconds left in regulation to tie it for the Wolves, who will host New Orleans or Oklahoma City on Friday for the eighth spot and a first-round date with top-seeded Denver beginning Sunday. The Pelicans host the Thunder on Wednesday night.
Anthony Davis had 24 points, 15 rebounds and one tremendously ill-advised foul on Conley, who scored 23 points. Los Angeles survived a back-and-forth meeting with Minnesota, which gave an inspired effort while playing without starters Rudy Gobert and Jaden McDaniels.
Gobert is suspended for punching teammate Kyle Anderson during Minnesota&rsquo;s regular-season finale against New Orleans, while McDaniels is out indefinitely with a broken hand after punching a wall in frustration Sunday.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
LeBron James and Anthony Davis lead the Lakers to a HUGE Play-In win in OT 😤 LeBron: 30 PTS, 10 REB, 6 AST AD: 24 PTS, 15 REB, 4 AST, 3 BLK Shoutout Dennis Schroder for his 21 points and clutch buckets off the bench 🔥 <a href="https://t.co/D2m0HZkMS7">pic.twitter.com/D2m0HZkMS7</a>
&mdash; BasketballNews.com (@basketbllnews) <a href="https://twitter.com/basketbllnews/status/1646015944123203585?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 12, 2023</a></blockquote>

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Los Angeles finally won it with defense, holding the Wolves to seven points in the final 11 minutes from midway through the fourth quarter while the Lakers rallied from a 15-point deficit in the second half.
Schr&ouml;der drilled a tiebreaking 3-pointer with 1.4 seconds to play in regulation, but the Wolves forced overtime when Conley hit three free throws with 0.1 seconds left after Davis stepped on his foot after he had already released a 3-point attempt.
D&rsquo;Angelo Russell had a nightmare game for Los Angeles against the team that traded him in February, scoring two points on 1-of-9 shooting with eight assists. He was benched down the stretch by Schr&ouml;der, who came through tremendously.
TIP-INS
Timberwolves: McDaniels attended the game.
Lakers: Schr&ouml;der returned from a two-game injury absence. ... Tristan Thompson and Shaq Harrison were in uniform for the first time after signing last Sunday. Neither veteran played.
UP NEXT
Timberwolves: Host Pelicans or Thunder on Friday.
Lakers: At Grizzlies on Sunday.

LeBron James had 30 points, and the Lakers earned the No. 7 seed with a grueling 108-102 overtime victory over the Timberwolves.