The Biggest Male Athletes to Watch at the Summer Olympics

The 2024 Summer Olympics kick off with the opening ceremony on Friday, July 26th from Paris, France. For the following two weeks, athletes from around the world will showcase their talents in various competitions. One of the most popular sports is basketball. There was once a time when the United States dominated the world. However, the rest of Earth has closed the gap with America. Another sport folks can’t get enough of is tennis. These are just two of the main events people spend their time watching.

It’s wild to consider that these games will be the first Steph Curry has ever participated in. He’s the greatest shooter in the history of basketball. Curry has won four NBA titles, a Finals MVP, and has made the most three-pointers out of everyone to ever play the game. All eyes will be on him and the U.S. Men’s Basketball Team this year as Curry attempts to add a gold medal to his already dazzling resume.

Novak Djokovic is a legend in the tennis world. There’s seemingly nothing in the sport he hasn’t accomplished… other than winning a gold medal at the Olympics. The best Djokovic has ever finished at the Olympics is third, all the way back in 2008. For whatever reason, Djokovic can’t seem to crack into the top spot in a sport many would have him pegged as the favorite to win. For more Olympic coverage, click here to read about the countries with the most Olympic medals.

To compile this list of the biggest male athletes to watch this Summer Olympics, 24/7 Tempo consulted Olympic-related sources. These include NBC Olympics, SwimSwam, and Biography.com

Steph Curry

There’s no debating that Steph Curry is one of the greatest basketball players in history. Despite all of his accomplishments, he’s yet to appear in the Olympics. The 2024 games will be Curry’s debut with team U.S.A. Fans are excitedly anticipating watching Curry hit shot after shot in the upcoming event. In the NBA, Curry has become known as the greatest shooter in history. He’s made more three pointers than anyone to set foot on an NBA court.

Curry has also won four rings during his time with the Golden State Warriors. His Warriors teams were one of the first to incorporate tons of passing and cutting. Tons of NBA teams used to rely heavily on isolation plays. Curry and the Warriors revolutionized the game. The coach of U.S.A basketball is Steve Kerr, who’s also the coach of the Warriors. Keep an eye out for Curry hitting big shots throughout the Olympics.

LeBron James

Steph Curry isn’t the only big name planning to take the stage with U.S.A. basketball. Arguably the greatest player in history is LeBron James, who’s looking to add another Olympic gold medal to his collection. Even after more than 20 years playing in the NBA, James still possesses the same athleticism that players in their prime have. It’s not uncommon to see James have a highlight reel dunk or blow by a defender.

Even though people rarely use Olympic medals as a supportive argument in the debates between James and Michael Jordan, it won’t hurt for James to claim gold number three. Because the Olympics are ever four years, this will likely be the last time fans get to see James take the stage at the famed event. Whether or not you think he’s above Jordan in the all-time rankings, important to appreciate what James has done for the game. Fans won’t be watching him for much longer.

Noah Lyles

It’s rare to ruffle the feathers of American sports fans the way Noah Lyles did. After the Denver Nuggets won the NBA Finals in 2023, Lyles went on record saying the team couldn’t claim they were world champions because they only beat teams from the United States and Canada. Some fans agreed with Lyles because of the technicality that the Nuggets indeed didn’t beat anyone from Europe. Most fans argued that the NBA is comprised of the best players in the world already.

Lyles is considered the fastest man in the world. He’s won championships in various countries around the globe, competing against anyone and everyone. The 100 meter dash is one of the most anticipated events during the Summer Olympics. Lyles will likely also represent the United States in the 200 meter dash event. Whether you agree with Lyles’ statement about teams being world champions or not, you’re screen will be on with him chasing gold.

Leon Marchand

Track and field isn’t the only event fans get excited over. Swimming is one of the most watched events during the Summer Olympics. There are tons of different distances that swimmers participate in. It’s no secret that Michael Phelps was a huge reason swimming exploded in popularity during the last 20 years. These days, Leon Marchand is the man who will become the face of swimming around the world.

Marchand was born in France and represents the French during the Olympics. However, like Phelps, Marchand swims at the college level for Arizona State and is coached by Bob Bowman. Marchand qualified for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, where he didn’t have the debut he wanted. However, at the ripe age of 22 for the 2024 games, Marchand will look to dominate the competition in the pool.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

NBA fans are already familiar with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and his outstanding basketball playing ability. The Oklahoma City Thunder guard is planning to showcase his talents during the 2024 Summer Olympics with his native Canada. Gilgeous-Alexander hit the genetic lottery. His mother is Charmaine Gilgeous. She represented Antigua and Barbuda during the 1992 Summer Olympics in which she ran in the women’s 400 meter dash.

He finished as the MVP runner-up  during the 2023-2024 NBA season. Gilgeous-Alexander is one of the best young players in the league. After being drafted by the Los Angeles Clippers, Gilgeous-Alexander was traded to Oklahoma City in the deal that sent Paul George to the Clippers. Ever since then, Gilgeous-Alexander has been seen as the leader of the Thunder, as they look to win their first title in Oklahoma City. Team Canada is deep and has a legitimate shot at beating anyone in their way.

Carlos Alcaraz

Nobody has more momentum coming into the Summer Olympics than Carlos Alcaraz. He recently captured his second straight Wimleldon title after beating Novak Djokovic in the final. The young man from Spain is only 21 years old and is already considered one of the two best players in the game. There were tons of fans who thought Djokovic’s claim as the greatest player alive would run longer than it has, since Alcaraz and Djokovic each have three wins against the other.

This will be Alcaraz’s first time at the Olympics. Tennis lovers are excited and hopeful that Alcaraz and Djokovic will meet down the line in the final match for the gold medal. Djokovic has never won an Olympic gold before. If Alcaraz can stop him from winning his first gold medal, it will signify to many people that Alcaraz has fully taken over Djokovic as the best player in the sport.

Novak Djokovic

One of the most dominant tennis players in history is undoubtedly Novak Djokovic. Whether you love him or hate him, you’re always tuning in to see what Djokovic does next on the court. He’s won 24 major titles in his career, a record that seems nearly untouchable. Djokovic has taken home the most amount of prize money of any tennis player in their career, at more than $100 million. However, there’s one accolade Djokovic is looking to add to his collection.

Djokovic has never won an Olympic gold medal. What’s even more amazing to consider is how many times he’s attempted to win gold. He’s already been in four different Olympic games, with his best finish being third place. Nobody has ever held Djokovic’s lack of a gold medal over his head. However, being the competitor he is, there’s no question Djokovic is looking to hear the Serbian National Anthem played after the men’s singles tennis event.

Nikola Jokic

Another dominant Serbian looking to claim his first Olympic gold medal is Nikola Jokic. In the NBA, there’s nothing Jokic hasn’t accomplished. He’s a three time MVP, NBA champion, and NBA Finals MVP. Jokic has become known for his flashy passes and unselfish style of play. He’s the unquestioned leader on a Serbian team that features other NBA players as well. During his first Olympics in 2016, Jokic helped Serbia win a silver medal.

There are plenty of basketball fans who are curious to see how far Jokic can carry team Serbia. The two favorites are the United States and Canada. Both teams are nearly fully comprised of NBA players. Serbia has a couple of NBA players on their roster, but some athletes also play in various other leagues. If Jokic can pull off winning a gold medal agains the competition he’s facing in the Olympics, there will be some people who put him in their top 10 players in history.

Tom Daley

The amount of self-control that’s required to win a gold medal in diving is nearly second to none. Imagine jumping from 10 meters and having the mental makeup to ensure your body does a certain amount of flips before perfectly landing in the water. That’s just what Tom Daley is preparing to do in the 2024 Summer Olympics. The British diver won gold in the 10 meter synchro dive in Tokyo at the last games.

Daley has become a global icon since he’s a member of the LGBTQ+ community. Tons of people around the world look to Daley for inspiration and to be a beacon of light. More young people are comfortable these days expressing that they’re members of the same community as Daley. Don’t be surprised when you see Daley’s name trending during the Paris games.

Scottie Scheffler

No golfer on the PGA Tour is having the same level of success as Scottie Scheffler. Fans agree that it feels as though Scheffler is playing a video game that’s set on the easiest setting. The Olympics will be a chance for Scheffler to compete against others who have joined the LIV Tour. LIV poached tons of the top golfers from the PGA Tour by offering seemingly unheard of amounts of money.

Scheffler was one of the few who didn’t take the wealth that was offered to him. Scheffler had a child earlier this year and was famously detained by Louisville Police during the U.S Open. Fans are hoping Scheffler avoids any further run ins with the law when he touches down in Paris. The famed golfer is looking to add a gold medal to his already impressive trophy collection.

Nyjah Houston

One of the newest events in the Olympics is skateboarding. Nobody has done it better in the United States than Nyjah Houston. Throughout his career, Houston has taken home countless medal at the Summer X Games. This was one of the highest levels of competition until the Olympics added skateboarding in 2020. Houston qualified for the event in its debut, but didn’t bring home any medals.

Skateboarding fans are counting down the moments until Houston takes stage in Paris for his second Olympic appearance. More young people are skateboarding these days as their preferred method of getting around. Tons of riders have learned skills that appear to be second to none. There’s no telling how many more Olympics Houston will participate in, since he’s been a professional rider for more than 20 years.

Kylian Mbappe

The most popular sport around the world is unquestionably soccer. Fans in other countries live and die with their teams’ successes and failures even more so than Americans do with football teams. The best player in the world in 2024 is Kylian Mbappe. The Frenchmen who is gearing up to play with Real Madrid for the 2024 campaign has his eyes set on bringing home gold in the host-country of the Olympics.

Mbappe is leaving Paris Saint-Germain to go to Real Madrid. PSG fans had a mixed response when they learned Mbappe was planning to leave the club. Winning a gold medal for his country would be an excellent way to alleviate some of the frustration fans have toward him at this moment. It would also be an excellent way to come back after a heartbreaking defeat in the 2022 World Cup Final against Argentina. Folks in France couldn’t be more excited to see what Mbappe and the French National Team do in the coming weeks. For more sports content, click here to read about Americans’ favorite athletes of all time.

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