Top Under The Radar Olympic Performers

Now that the 2024 Olympic basketball tournament is complete, ending with Team USA securing a tight win over the host country on both the men’s and women’s side of things. Throughout the competition, though, non-NBA players shone bright as their countries clashed with one another, garnering global attention. From South Sudan to Brazil to Spain, different players emerged and played well against their NBA counterparts. Now that things are all said and done, don’t be surprised if teams with cap space decide to take a flier on one of these guys, betting on this not being just a fluky run. Here are five players who fit the mold and could find themselves on an NBA roster come the beginning of the regular season.

1. France G Guerschon Yabusele

Before the Olympic competition got underway, many thought that the French were one of the dark horse candidates who could go on a run. They ended up being right, of course, but not because of the talent at the top of their roster. Instead, the bench pieces and ancillary players stepped up in a major way, with Yabusele leading the charge. He averaged 14 points per contest and took on the toughest defensive assignment in almost every game the French played. If a team were willing to give him a chance to return to the NBA, Yabusele said he would take it, but also that he is happy where he is, playing professionally in Spain.

2. Brazil F Bruno Caboclo

The second former NBA player on this list, Caboclo has been forgotten ever since bouncing out of the NBA after a few unproductive years in the league. He came alive in Paris, averaging 17 points per contest and bringing down eight rebounds per bout as well. Against the USA, Caboclo held his own against the supreme defense that the Americans put forward, even though they keyed in on slowing him down after his 33 point outburst against Japan that secured the Brazilians a spot in the knockout phase of the tournament. His improved shooting from the outside is desirable in today’s NBA, but his defensive shortcomings continue to pose concern amongst general managers. However, he could slide into a role as a flamethrower off the bench, something that almost every NBA team is always looking for.

3. Japan G Yuki Kawamura

If you asked the normal, everyday NBA fan to name Japanese basketball players, they would give you one, maybe two answers; Rui Hachimura and perhaps Yuta Watanabe. Ironically enough, neither of those two were the best players on their team in these Olympics. Instead, that honor goes to Kawamura, who led the team in scoring, averaging 20.3 points per game. Guards that can score as well as facilitate on high levels are a hot commodity in the NBA, so Kawamura could easily earn a backup point guard spot. He dished out 7.7 assists per contest, boasting an assist-to-turnover ratio of more than 2-1. He would already be on an NBA roster if it weren’t for his height, which at 5’8” is a clear liability.

4. South Sudan G Carlik Jones

The story surrounding the South Sudan national team is one of hard work and years of coming up short. This year, though, they broke out onto the scene and played much better than anyone expected them to, given the fact that they were unlucky enough to face down the mighty Team USA in pool play. The team took that challenge in stride, though, mostly behind the play of Jones and former Laker Wenyen Gabriel. At 18 points per game, Jones was the 10th leading scorer in the Games, which is made all the more impressive given that he shot a measly 27.3% from deep. His knack for getting into the paint was Jalen Brunson-esque and the American guards had a tough time staying in front of Jones when he was on the attack. Again, an undersized guard doesn’t translate well into the NBA, but Jones’ ability to collapse the defense on his drives makes him an interesting bet moving forward.

5. France F/C Mathias Lessort

Another Frenchman makes the list here, and for good reason. The frontcourt combination of Lessort and Yabusele became the go-to duo when Victor Wembanyama needed to rest on the bench, especially later on in the tournament. In their comeback victory against Germany in the semifinals, Lessort helped to spark the run that ended with the French coming out on top. His stats are extremely underwhelming, but when the French team needed an injection of energy and effort, Lessort was always there, willing to lay out for a loose ball or bang down low for offensive rebounds. Some have compared his playstyle to that of Kenneth Faried, and that alone has earned him some intrigue around the league.