Rio Olympics: Denver Nuggets in Qualifying Tournaments
By Drew Albee
Who advances to the Olympics?
The Nuggets certainly have several players that aim to represent their countries in this summer’s Olympics, but will any of them advance to Rio?
I would imagine that the Serbian Sensation, Nikola Jokic, helps a talented Serbian team past Angola and Puerto Rico, out of their group and into the Olympics ,where the world’s sixth-ranked team will certainly fight for a medal.
I, too, picture Joffrey Lauvergne and the fifth-ranked French squad, with their cadre of NBA talent, advancing to Rio past either Canada or Turkey. Once in Rio, the French are another talented team that will probably advance to the medal round.
Unfortunately for Danilo Gallinari and Jamal Murray, I do not expect either of their countries to advance out of qualification. Despite the hype surrounding the qualifying tournament and Gallinari’s hero status in the country, the Italian side just isn’t talented enough to advance past the likes of Greece or Croatia. I don’t think Murray will even suit up for Canada unless they advance to Rio — based on his contract situation and obligation to the Nuggets’ summer league squad.
However, I don’t believe the Canadians are likely to get past the two European heavyweights — France and Turkey — in their tournament.
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The Americans remain heavy favorites in Rio, but one of our Nuggets could certainly bring a medal back to the Mile High City. Stay tuned this summer!