Can Shai Gilgeous-Alexander lead Canada basketball to silver or gold in 2024 Olympics?

In this edition of the Thunder mailbag, we look back at the final week of men’s basketball at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Quarterfinals: Germany-Greece | Australia-Serbia | Canada-France | United States-Brazil

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@HoyasAndNatsFan: How do you see the men’s hoops medals?

Even in a single-elimination setting, in a sport that hasn’t spared the United States from heartbreak, I’d be a fool to not claim them as my overwhelming gold medal favorites.

Greece and Serbia have the two best players in the Paris field, but LeBron James remains a 39-year-old sleeping giant, capable of lifting the USA on his back when necessary. It just wasn’t particularly necessary through group play.

With Kevin Durant playing like history’s most capable sixth man, with Anthony Edwards exploding for 26 points against Puerto Rico, with Devin Booker seeping into his role, with Bam Adebayo looking improved — James has hardly had to lift a finger.

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As for the rest of the field, Canada has a real shot at winning silver. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, even through stretches where he isn’t immediately thrown into actions and is instead relegated to being off ball, has played as well as anyone through group play.

He gets to the free-throw line just as organically as the regular season. His spots on the floor remain his. He seizes the game when he needs to.

With RJ Barrett alongside SGA, playing like an untenable slasher, the two have been quite the tandem. Andrew Nembhards is one of the most sound guards in the field, and Canada has won games even despite Jamal Murray looking like he has the suds.

They’re surrounded by defenders like Lu Dort and Dillon Brooks, and a lack of competent size certainly hurt but never drowned the Canadians. Their biggest test to date will be France.

But Germany, with the way it handled France, seems poised to medal. Franz Wagner is higher up on the list of talent in Paris than he might be getting credit for. Playing with Dennis Schroeder, the two have accentuated each other.

A convincing win over France is as much convincing as I needed.

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To make future editions of the mailbag, email questions to jlorenzi@oklahoman.com or message him on Twitter @jxlorenzi.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Can Shai Gilgeous-Alexander lead Canada basketball to Olympic medal?