Team USA won gold at the Olympic Games on Sunday, which means that the basketball world can turn its attention back to the NBA. Five weeks away from training camp, here are 10 players whose performances in Rio de Janeiro could bode well for their NBA teams.
Note: If your favorite Olympian doesn't appear on this list, it doesn't necessarily mean he was disappointing. Unless your favorite Olympian is Draymond Green or Jonas Valanciunas.
No player has done more for his reputation this summer than Anthony, despite the fact that he only shot 39 percent at the Olympic Games. He was the elder statesman and the leader for Team USA, becoming the first men's basketball player to win three Olympic gold medals. NBA success has eluded Anthony since the Knicks' 54-win season in 2012-13, and it had worn on him. He went to Rio because he wanted to experience winning again, and that mission has been accomplished. Now, can these good vibes carry over when he returns to New York?
In most senses, Anthony's situation with the Knicks is completely different, despite Derrick Rose calling them a super-team. If New York is going to win, though, it would be smart to try to have Anthony play a similar way to how he traditionally has in international competition. Translation: much less playing time at small forward, a faster pace and less dribbling. Knicks coach Jeff Hornacek seems like a coach capable of making this happen, as long as he's not constrained by president Phil Jackson's desire to keep the triangle offense alive.
Here's some trivia to impress your friends: Bogdanovic led all players at the Olympics in points per game. In Croatia's six games, he averaged 25.3 points on 50.6 percent shooting, including 45 percent from 3-point range. He had the green light to shoot whenever he wanted, and shoot it he did. Bogdanovic showed no fear of launching shots when guarded or when several feet behind the 3-point line. And this did not hurt his efficiency.
The good news: There's no reason he can't do this in the NBA. When Bogdanovic exploded for 33 points on 10-for-16 shooting against Brazil, it was reminiscent of his 44-point eruption against the Philadelphia 76ers in March. When he is asked to fire away, he can put up big numbers. In Brooklyn, on a team starved for scorers, he'll be asked to fire away. Bogdanovic was the big winner when the Nets lost out on Tyler Johnson and Allen Crabbe in restricted free agency this summer.
It's hard to believe that Bogut injured his left knee just two months ago. He set the tone for Australia with 18 points on 9-for-10 shooting in their opener against France, a blowout win, and while his numbers decreased from there, he kept up his terrific all-around play. He didn't look injured when he threw down alley-oop dunks, facilitated from the high post and played near-perfect defense throughout the tournament.
Bogut's Olympics didn't end the way he wanted -- Australia were blown out by Serbia in the semifinals and lost a heartbreaking, controversial bronze medal game against Spain -- but there is plenty to build on. He shot 75.7 percent overall, and he's joining a team that tends to get the most out of its centers. Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle has never had a great passing big man like Bogut, and since they don't have ball-dominant players elsewhere, he should have a bigger role than he has had in a while.
If it wasn't for the Australian national team, then everybody's most recent memory of Dellavedova -- aside from fans chanting "DEL-LY!" at the Cavs' championship parade -- would be him sitting on the bench for just about all of their historic comeback in the NBA Finals. Dellavedova was marginalized against the Golden State Warriors, but his work for the Boomers showed why the Bucks wanted to pay him $38 million over four years.
Australia counted on Dellavedova, not Patty Mills, to be their primary playmaker in Rio de Janeiro. He averaged 7.0 assists, more than anybody aside from Lithuania's Mantas Kalnietis, to go with his 8.9 points per game. Arguably more important: he averaged only 1.4 turnovers, and his defense looked even better/more annoying than it does in the NBA. In Milwaukee, Dellavedova will once again share the court with another creator, 6-foot-11 point forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, and his role will be roughly the same. Don't be surprised if Delly is in the starting lineup.
The Warriors surely wanted Durant to use this opportunity to get to know Klay Thompson and Draymond Green. It was also a chance to get used to playing on a team that is full of stars and manages to keep focused on defense and sharing the ball. Judging by their social media posts, the first goal was not a problem. As for the defense and ball movement, results were mixed. Team USA struggled with that in the group stage, but figured things out when it mattered.
The most encouraging sign: Durant closed out the Olympics with a dominant, 30-point performance in the gold medal game. He made the extra pass to open shooters like Thompson, but he played like himself rather than trying to fit in. Golden State has to hope that, like Team USA, it can learn its lessons in close wins rather than losses.
If his brother, Marc, was available to play, then the 36-year-old Gasol could have been a secondary or tertiary option on this team. Instead, he led Spain in minutes and averaged 19.5 points (fourth in the Olympics) and 8.9 rebounds (first in the Olympics). Aside from the members of Team USA, no one played better than Gasol in Rio, and that's great news for the Spurs.
After three underwhelming games to start the tournament, Spain was great defensively. For years, they've been an international power because of the way they move the ball and shoot the ball. Does that sound like San Antonio to you? With LaMarcus Aldridge and Kawhi Leonard next to him, Gasol won't have to be an offensive focal point like he was for the last couple of weeks, but it shouldn't take him long to fit in.
Jokic is probably not even underrated anymore, given that everyone who paid even cursory attention to the Nuggets raved about him toward the end of his rookie season. With Serbia, he wasn't always showcased like a future star -- he came off the bench behind Miroslav Raduljica for most of the tournament, including the gold medal game -- but you could see the tools that League Pass addicts are so excited about. He has a soft touch on the inside, nice shooting form on the perimeter and the size and quickness to anchor a defense.
Jokic's best performance was when Serbia met Team USA in group play. He scored 25 points on 11-for-15 shooting, with six rebounds, three assists, a block and a steal. He scored from all over the court and he played solid defense against the American big men, too. It's always a good thing when you're 21 years old and you're being compared to the Gasol brothers.
Bogdanovic is the only player who scored at a better rate that Mills in Rio. With Dellavedova handling point guard duties, Mills' job was clear: get buckets. He did that, averaging 21.3 points for the Boomers and shooting 47.3 percent with a large offensive burden. In the bronze medal game against Spain, he scored 30 points, but was called for a questionable foul with five seconds left that arguably cost Australia a spot on the podium.
Due to the presence of Tony Parker, it's unlikely that this will springboard Mills into a starting role in the NBA. Perhaps, though, it's time for them to play together more or simply have them split the point guard minutes during the regular season. Mills appears to be ready for an expanded offensive role.
While Spain was a little inconsistent, Mirotic was one of their more reliable players. As well as making 44.7 percent of his 3-pointers, he moved his feet defensively on the perimeter and battled for rebounds on the inside. None of this is any different from what he's done with the Bulls, but his shot has been streaky and his confidence has been up-and-down during his two seasons in the NBA.
Going into his third year, the Bulls need him more than ever. There just aren't many other shooters on the roster, so they need him to be ready to play major minutes. If their experiment with Rajon Rondo, Dwyane Wade and Jimmy Butler is going to work, then Mirotic must be spacing the floor and moving the ball the same way he did for Spain.
Brazil didn't make it to the medal round, but they have nothing to be ashamed about when it comes to their 111-107 double-overtime loss to Argentina in group play. In that game, Nene had 24 points, 11 rebounds, two assists and two steals in more than 38 minutes, but what stood out the most was his ability to switch onto smaller players and contain them on the perimeter. That's what the Washington Wizards will miss most about him, and he'll be asked to do it consistently with the Rockets.
Nene had a couple of rough offensive games against Spain and Croatia, but overall he averaged 13 points and 6.4 rebounds. It's easy to imagine him as a good pick-and-roll partner for James Harden, and Houston has to hope that he can help the team start playing adequate defense again.
