The 2024 Summer Olympics are rapidly approaching, with the men's basketball tournament commencing on Saturday, July 27. Paris, France will play home to the best international talent in the vast world of sports, and the Los Angeles Lakers are as well-represented as any organization on the planet.
With current and former players suiting up for their respective countries, the Lakers will take center stage on the biggest platform the sports world has to offer.
12 countries will compete at the 2024 Olympics in the men's basketball tournament. Team USA will enter as the heavy favorites after a 5-0 run through exhibition action, but they're far from alone as far as viable threats to win the gold medal.
Australia, Canada, France, Germany, and Serbia are all highly regarded contenders with NBA talent, and it's never wise to write off teams such as Brazil, Greece, or Spain.
Japan, Puerto Rico, and South Sudan round out the field as teams that have the tools to shock the competition. South Sudan, for instance, recently took Team USA to the wire, with the Americans ultimately escaping with a 101-100 victory.
The question is: Which current and former Lakers will be representing their respective countries once the Olympic games begin?
1. Isaac Bonga, Germany
The Lakers acquired Isaac Bonga via trade on the night of the 2018 NBA Draft. Bonga appeared in 22 games with the team, averaging 5.5 minutes played per game, which underscored how brief his tenure was with the organization.
In saying that, he's still one of eight current or former Lakers who will be suiting up for their country at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.