The United States and Serbia square off in their opening match of the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics, with the winner taking a stranglehold at the top of Group C. The two basketball giants are joined in Group C with lowly Puerto Rico and South Sudan, and both teams will be confident they can book their place into the Quarterfinals, regardless of this result. The United States has a surplus of NBA superstars on their roster, with LeBron James, Steph Curry, Jayson Tatum, and Joel Embiid among a few of the household names available to suit up. For Serbia, there is no doubt they need a big tournament from reigning NBA MVP Nikola Jokic to pull off the upset.
Group C Odds:
| Team | Odds |
| USA | -1670 |
| Serbia | +640 |
| Puerto Rico | +3400 |
| South Sudan | +4400 |
USA vs Serbia Basketball Olympics 2024 Expert Picks and Predictions
The United States is coming into this matchup as the clear favorite to seal the victory, with its entire roster holding starting jobs in the NBA. After the USA’s disappointing FIBA World Cup, it has lifted its ‘One Olympic Rule’ and allowed its best team to suit up. Meanwhile, Serbia has just a handful of NBA players, with its only true NBA talent coming in the form of Nikola Jokic.
NBA Players for Both Teams
| USA | Serbia |
| LeBron James (LA Lakers) | Nikola Jokic (Denver Nuggets) |
| Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors) | Bogdan Bogdanovic (Atlanta Hawks) |
| Joel Embiid (Philadelphia 76ers) | Nikola Jovic (Miami Heat) |
| Anthony Davis (LA Lakers) | Vasilije Micic (Charlotte Hornets) |
| Jayson Tatum (Boston Celtics) | |
| Jrue Holiday (Boston Celtics) | |
| Devin Booker (Phoenix Suns) | |
| Tyrese Haliburton (Indiana Pacers) | |
| Anthony Edwards (Minnesota Timberwolves) | |
| Bam Adebayo (Miami Heat) | |
| Derrick White (Boston Celtics) | |
| Injured- Kevin Durant (Phoenix Suns) |
United States:
The United States will need to bring their A-game to the opening match, as they were reminded that everyone stepping onto the court against them will be playing with maximum intensity. They edged out a four point win against Germany in their final exhibition match after beating South Sudan by 101-100 just a few days prior. South Sudan came in as 43 point underdogs against the United States and was crushed by a last second bucket by LeBron James to have a historic victory snatched from their grasp. There is no doubt the United States is the best basketball team in the world, and if they avoid complacency, they shouldn’t have a problem in this matchup.
Serbia:
Serbia will go as far as Nikola Jokic can take them. Their 2024 Paris Basketball aspirations will land firmly on the shoulders of the two-time NBA MVP, as they lack the squad depth to challenge otherwise. Fortunately for them, they still have most of their starting roster made from NBA talent, and Jokic’s mesmerizing skill elevates the play of his teammates on a nightly basis. Serbia’s +1700 odds to win the 2024 Summer Olympics are the fourth shortest odds, and this is a fantastic test for them to kick off their Olympic campaign.
USA vs Serbia Basketball Olympics Odds
The United States is coming into this matchup as the clear favorite to win, with a 13 point spread attached to their victory.
| USA | Serbia | |
| Moneyline | -1200 | +533 |
| Spread | -13 (-119) | +13 (-117) |
Who is Predicted to Win USA vs Serbia Basketball Olympics 2024?
The United States is predicted to win the Olympic Basketball 2024 USA vs Serbia match. They are coming in as sizable favorites thanks to their recent dominant play and a roster bursting with NBA superstars. There is no doubt Serbia has the best basketball player on the court with Nikola Jokic, but they lack the depth the Americans will be bringing into this one. Jokic is a fantastic basketball player, but unless he is directly involved in the offense, Serbia will struggle to break down the size of the USA. The modified rules for Olympic basketball compared to NBA play could give the United States some trouble, but after five exhibition matches, they are now prepared for this competition.
NBA Championships By Country
Serbia: (1)
- Nikola Jokic (1)
United States: (13)
- LeBron James (4)
- Steph Curry (4)
- Jrue Holiday (2)
- Anthony Davis (1)
- Jayson Tatum (1)
- Derrick White (1)
How to Make 2024 Olympics Men’s Basketball Picks?
In order to make your free 2024 Olympics Men’s Basketball picks and predictions, you will need to head over to Sportzino. Sportzino has odds to make your predictions for every Olympic basketball game, including spreads, moneylines, totals, and even/odd point totals. Whether you are looking to predict the star-studded American team to cruise to an opening match victory, or you want to predict Nikola Jokic and Serbia to show some grit and pull off the upset, Sportzino is the best place to make you 2024 Paris Olympic Basketball predictions.
