The basketball competition at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles will draw the eyes of the world, with Team USA able to draw from many of the biggest stars in the NBA.
On Wednesday ESPN reported additional details for the basketball tournament, revealing that the schedule will begin ahead of the official opening ceremony to allow players enough time to recover between games. FIBA, basketball’s global governing body, has announced that the Olympics competition is set to start on July 12, with the opening ceremony taking place on July 14.
“This adjustment allows the quarterfinals to be played over two days and will also ensure that no game will start earlier than (noon), enhancing the overall experience for players, teams, fans and broadcasters,” a FIBA news release explained.
This being the Olympics, the format is structured to produce a gold, silver and bronze medal winner in both the men’s and the women’s competitions. The gold medal games are scheduled to take place across July 29 and July 30, the final day of the 2028 Olympic Games. The bronze medal, or third-place, games will be played across July 28 and July 29.
Basketball is not the only sport to get underway ahead of the official start of the Games. Other team sports like field hockey, rugby sevens, water polo, handball, cricket and soccer are all expected to begin before July 14.
Team USA will be expected to triumph again in the men’s basketball competition, having won the previous five straight gold medals. However the growing number of European stars in the NBA, along with the Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s Canada, will pose stiff competition this time around.
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