5 best international basketball players not in Brazil
They'll start playing basketball in Rio this afternoon, but as some of the world's top basketball nations look to end the Americans' dominance in the sport, they'll have to do so without some of their top players.
Here are the five best international basketball players not joining their countrymen in Rio.
Evan Fournier
Country: France | Pos: SG
2015-16 stats: 15.4 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 2.7 apg
Fournier's name was noticeably absent when France released the roster of players it'd bring to Rio. He wasn't with the team for qualifying as he worked to resolve his contract situation, and coach Vincent Collet left him off the Rio roster to avoid disrupting team chemistry.
Marc Gasol
Country: Spain | Pos: C
2015-16 stats: 16.6 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 1.3 blkpg
Despite missing significant time due to injury for the second time in three years, Gasol had hoped to recover from a foot injury that ended his season in February in time to make the journey to Rio, but he wasn't able to pass the necessary medical tests.
Serge Ibaka
Country: Spain | Pos: PF
2015-16 stats: 12.6 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 1.9 blkpg
Ibaka's name was noticeably absent when the Spanish basketball federation cut its roster from 24 to 20 players in late June. The new Orlando Magic forward stated publicly he didn't want to make the journey - understandably so after reportedly having a nightmarish time in London in 2012.
Boban Marjanovic
Country: Serbia | Pos: C
2015-16 stats: 5.5 ppg, 3.6 rpg, .603 fg%
Boban ascended to cult status among die-hard basketball fans this past NBA season. His per 36 averages of 21 points, 13.7 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks earned him a three-year, $21-million contract with Detroit. Boban's decision to prioritize his contract negotiations led to some friction with the Serbian brass.
Joakim Noah
Country: France | Pos: C
2015-16 stats: 8.8 rpg, 3.8 apg, 1.0 blkpg
Noah hasn't been shy about saying he puts his NBA career before international play. The French basketball federation made the 2015 EuroBasket tournament - which France co-hosted - mandatory for players hoping to join the team in Rio. Noah wasn't there, so he isn't in Rio.