The Paris 2024 Olympics kicked off with an extraordinary opening ceremony that lasted over three hours. The event featured a spectacular parade of more than 10,000 athletes from over 200 countries, who will compete in over 30 disciplines across more than 300 events over the next two weeks. The United States has the largest delegation, with nearly 600 athletes, led by flag bearers LeBron James and Coco Gauff. France, the host nation, has the second-largest delegation.

Among the nearly 600 American athletes, the spotlight shines on the 12 NBA players representing the U.S. In the last four Olympics, dating back to Beijing 2008, the U.S. has consistently taken home the gold medal in basketball. However, this year, they face an unprecedented number of NBA players on opposing teams. Their first challenge comes tomorrow against Serbia, which boasts the recent MVP and dominant player of the last five years, Nikola Jokic. Despite the different dynamics of international play, Jokic has a psychological edge over two key U.S. players.

LeBron James and Anthony Davis vs Nikola Jokic

Why does Jokic have the upper hand? Because in the past 13 matchups between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Denver Nuggets, the Lakers have a dismal 1-12 record since 2022. This marks a clear dominance by Jokic over both Anthony Davis and LeBron James. It’s worth noting that few teams have been able to outperform the Nuggets since 2022. Additionally, less than two weeks ago, the U.S. defeated Serbia with a stellar performance by Steph Curry, securing a 105-79 victory.

Anthony Davis acknowledged that the game against Serbia will be a challenging one, particularly as it marks the first match for both nations. Although Davis won’t start over Joel Embiid, he remains confident, stating, “Obviously, you know what he (Jokic) does in the NBA. But then maybe a little bit higher usage rate in the international game.” This game will be crucial for both teams in a group that also includes South Sudan and Puerto Rico.

NBA economic power in the Olympics

Thirteen out of the 20 highest-paid athletes in this year’s Olympics hail from the NBA, underscoring the league’s economic power and the staggering salary disparity between basketball and other sports. LeBron James will be the second highest-paid player this year, but in terms of overall wealth, the billionaire LeBron stands as the richest athlete in this edition of the Olympics and in the history of the Games. This remarkable financial clout highlights not only the NBA’s dominance in the sports industry but also the significant earning potential for its top players, further cementing their status as global superstars.