7 International NBA Players to Watch at 2016 Summer Olympics
The 2016 Summer Olympics are a sports buffet that is too expansive to consume entirely. Even if you confine yourself to the 12-team basketball field, you still can't take it all in.
You have to pick your spots.
If all you want is uninterrupted dominance by Team USA, that's easy enough. Just watch Kevin Durant and Co. But if you prefer a broader sample, it can be tough to know which of the 35 international players with NBA ties warrant your attention.
This is a guide to which foreign talents bear watching—whether for pure aesthetics or, more importantly, signs of the impact they'll make on the NBA next season.
Dario Saric, Croatia
After two years overseas, the No. 12 pick in the 2014 NBA draft will ditch Anadolu Efes of the Turkish Basketball Super League and join the Philadelphia 76ers for the 2016-17 season.
Admit it, you're curious.
Who is Dario Saric? What can he do? Is he ready?
The Olympics will provide the first big-stage chance for Saric to answer those questions, though his MVP performance in the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament was a good start.
With 6'10" size, a smooth handle and an assortment of offensive moves that should help him punish smaller defenders, Saric looked like a surprisingly polished weapon in helping Croatia make the Olympic field. Questions linger about his outside shot and defensive chops, but he's not the first 22-year-old to face those.
"How we use him is going to be a challenge but fun, a great challenge," Sixers head coach Brett Brown said, per Jessica Camerato of CSN Philly. "Dario and Ben [Simmons] can play together. They're two really good players. How this plays out, how it takes shape, I think is a good challenge and one that we're excited to learn more about."
To maximize Simmons' once-in-a-generation court vision and passing, the Sixers need skilled, intuitive surrounding talent—guys who can make plays, position themselves in the right spots and capitalize on the setups that will come from the No. 1 pick in this year's draft.
Keep an eye on Saric in Rio to see if he showcases those traits against strong international competition.
Alex Abrines, Spain
Even when they had Durant, the Oklahoma City Thunder needed more shooting—or at least shooting that could hold up on the defensive end, which is why Anthony Morrow, one of the most accurate three-point snipers ever, wasn't the solution.
Spanish guard Alex Abrines could be one of Russell Westbrook's top floor-spacing targets in the upcoming season. The 23-year-old could also wind up being buried on OKC's bench if he can't play at least passable, better-than-Morrow defense. This is a low bar, but it's one he must prove he can clear in the Olympics.
Abrines' stroke isn't in question. In his last three seasons with FC Barcelona (starting in 2013-14), he shot 42, 41.9 and 43.5 percent from long range, respectively. Even more encouraging, the 6'6" Abrines isn't just a standstill shooter.
Bay Area News Group's Anthony Slater, then with the Oklahoman, liked the variety he saw from Abrines in Euroleague play:
Spain's roster boasts a ton of talent with Pau Gasol, Ricky Rubio, Nikola Mirotic and a half-dozen other names with NBA experience. So Abrines, a relatively low-volume scorer with Barcelona, will have to work hard to stand out.
If all he does is knock down open shots and play respectable defense, though, the Thunder should be happy.
Nikola Jokic, Serbia
Nikola Jokic was in ridiculous statistical company as a rookie last year, checking in at 11th in box plus/minus and 17th in win shares per 48 minutes, according to Basketball-Reference.com.
Those metrics are far from perfect, and Jokic played only 21.7 minutes per game, so his cumulative impact was somewhat diminished. But when Stephen Curry, Kawhi Leonard, Westbrook, Durant and LeBron James are among the leaders in both categories, you can at least say the numbers have something to do with quality of play.
The 21-year-old Serbian center demonstrated incredible passing skill and unteachable court sense in his first year, finding cutters, dropping off slick feeds on the interior and orchestrating the offense on short rolls to the foul line.
Aesthetically, few offensive bigs were more enjoyable to watch than Jokic last year.
Here is a caveat from The Ringer's Jonathan Tjarks:
"The big question is whether he can anchor a defense at a high level, and he will get the opportunity to show what he can do for Serbia, where he will be the alpha and omega on both sides of the ball. Serbia plays Team USA in Group A, and it will be fascinating to see how Jokic handles small ball with Draymond Green and smash ball with DeMarcus Cousins.
"
As the fulcrum of Serbia's attack, Jokic will be entertaining in Rio. The uninitiated will quickly fall in love with his heady game.
And for those who are seeking clarity on his ceiling (can he be a franchise cornerstone?), his progress on defense will be even more fascinating.
Tony Parker, France
Tony Parker doesn't fit in with the youthful trio above, but his play in Rio will be no less compelling.
In his 15th NBA season last year, Parker's minutes, scoring average and usage rate were all lower than they had been since he was a rookie. The decline in role and productivity coincided with (and may have caused) the Spurs' power transition from the Parker-Tim Duncan-Manu Ginobili core to the younger duo of Leonard and LaMarcus Aldridge.
"We talked about it all year long," Parker said of the new dynamic in a conversation with Jeff McDonald of the San Antonio Express News. "I am fine with it (a changing role), and going forward it's going to be like that."
Because Parker couldn't break down the defense at will, San Antonio had little choice but to play a more iso-heavy style. The resulting stagnation was a major contributor to the Spurs' postseason exit. Without dynamic play from Parker, buckets were suddenly much harder to come by.
It's unrealistic to expect a magical resurgence from a 15-year vet, but it would be nice to see a few of those patented bursts of speed from the Frenchman—the ones that shoved defenders back onto their heels and helped Parker become an elite interior finisher for so many years.
If we don't see any such plays against the Olympic field (which, for all of its talent, is still a notch below the NBA game), we'll know the Spurs' transition out of its two-decade dynastic style was irreversible.
Cristiano Felicio, Brazil
Was Cristiano Felicio's April emergence (7.9 PPG, 5.9 RPG) with the Chicago Bulls real? Or was it more like a stat-stuffing exploitation of late-season garbage time?
With Anderson Varejao and Tiago Splitter sidelined, we'll soon see whether Brazil's likely starting center can sustain a run that also included stellar play in summer league (11.4 PPG, 6.3 RPG).
Felicio has the size (6'10", 275 lbs) to overwhelm slimmer opponents in the lane and displayed great touch around the basket in his debut last year. As is the case for most inexperienced bigs, his defensive awareness and reaction time need work. With a thin frontcourt rotation behind him in Rio, he'll get plenty of reps in those areas.
The reduction in depth that created this opportunity for Felicio with Brazil is a lot like the situation in Chicago. Pau Gasol and Joakim Noah are both gone, and frontcourt incumbents Nikola Mirotic and Bobby Portis haven't proved themselves as essential cogs yet. Though Robin Lopez is aboard and Taj Gibson remains, the Bulls may have little choice but to trust their young center with a much bigger role.
He'll get a chance to prove he's ready for it in Rio.
Rudy Gobert, France
The Utah Jazz are good enough and deep enough to make the playoffs if Rudy Gobert is something less than dominant. But if this year is going to be the year (when the Jazz finally pull it all together and make a leap well into 50-win territory), the French center has to be a monster.
That means good health, further development in his help instincts and even a new wrinkle or two in a fairly limited offensive game. If Gobert doesn't look like a guy primed for a career season in Rio, those of us who are trumpeting Utah as a possible Western Conference finalist will have to walk back the enthusiasm a few paces.
He's that important.
Defense is not at issue with Utah's center; he's arguably the best rim protector in the world. It's the other end that needs work.
Look for Gobert to increase the pace of his decision-making on offense.
If he can't absorb the smooth, instinctive passing flow that should be contagious with Boris Diaw and Nicolas Batum around, it may mean that next step in offensive feel isn't coming. If he shows progress in diagnosing pick-and-roll coverages, that will be a great sign. And if he looks more comfortable rising for lobs or finding corner shooters when he rolls, even better.
To put up a fight against Team USA in a potential gold medal game, France needs Gobert to play a major role throughout the tournament.
For Utah to reach its considerable potential this season, it needs something more. It needs Gobert to dominate.
Manu Ginobili, Argentina
You have a moral obligation to watch Manu Ginobili.
Forget medal implications and his importance to the Spurs. Even at age 39, his game will refresh your soul, cleanse your spirit and attune your senses to the beautiful and mysterious rhythms of the universe.
There. Don't you feel centered?
This will almost certainly be his final international competition, so do the right and honorable thing by appreciating as much Manu as you can.
Stats courtesy of Basketball-Reference.com unless otherwise indicated.
