Which Gonzaga basketball players could play in the 2024 Olympic Games?

The Canadian national team could feature as many as four former Zags

While former Gonzaga men's basketball stars Filip Petrusev and Kelly Olynyk fell short of the gold medal at the 2023 FIBA World Cup, there's a chance both will have another shot to compete for basketball glory next summer at the 2024 Olympic Games.

As Germany was crowned champion of the 2023 FIBA World Cup on Sunday, nine countries have guaranteed their spot in the Olympics in Paris, France, next July. The Germans joined France, Serbia, Canada, the U.S., Australia, Japan and South Sudan. The rest of the field will be determined by 24 other countries that will split into six-team tournaments that will be held until the 2024 Olympics officially tip off.

But many countries have already begun the process of building their national teams for next summer, including Team USA, which has reportedly received interest from NBA superstars LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry about a possible "last dance" wearing the red, white and blue.

Here's a look at former Gonzaga players who could suit up in Paris as well:

KELLY OLYNYK, CANADA

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Olynyk is a candidate to return to international competition after helping the Canadian men's national team qualify for its first Olympic Games in 24 years with his efforts at the 2023 FIBA World Cup.

The 32-year-old coming off his 10th NBA season started in all eight World Cup games for Canada, which took home bronze with a win over Team USA in the third-place game. It was the farthest the Canadians had ever advanced at the World Cup, as a talented roster that featured seven NBA players looked like the early favorites to win the tournament. If the core of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, R.J. Barrett and Dillon Brooks return for Paris, Canada could make a push for its first-ever gold medal in 2024.

For Olynyk, it's the first and probably only chance he'll have at representing his country on the globe's biggest stage. He's been striving for such an opportunity since his first appearance on the senior national team in 2010, and now he has a chance to earn gold alongside the most talented bunch Canada has ever rostered.

BRANDON CLARKE, CANADA

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Clarke, a Vancouver native, was among the 14 players who made a three-year commitment to the Canadian men's national team in 2022, though a torn Achilles suffered in March prevented the Memphis Grizzlies forward from joining the team at the World Cup.

Though he's never played on the international level, Clarke's versatility and athleticism would aid a Canadian team that's in need of size after being exposed by Serbia in the semifinals. With Olynyk and Powell both approaching 33 years old, Clarke could be a long-term option in the frontcourt with Purdue's Zach Edey. But that doesn't limit from Clarke playing a role on the perimeter, either.

Clarke would likely compete for a roster spot, though, along with Bennedict Mathurin (Indiana Pacers), Leonard Miller (Charlotte Hornets) and Andrew Wiggins (Golden State) among other NBA veterans.

ANDREW NEMBHARD, CANADA

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Like Clarke, Nembhard didn't join Canada for its historic run at the World Cup, but he could earn backup guard minutes behind the Nuggets' Jamal Murray and Gilgeous-Alexander at the 2024 Olympics.

The Indiana Pacers guard has experience with the national team from the 2019 FIBA World Cup, though he had a limited role behind Cory Joseph and former Gonzaga guard Kevin Pangos. Next summer's Canadian squad will feature much more talent in the backcourt, and that doesn't include the potential of Shaedon Sharpe or Mathurin joining the team either. Perhaps another year of experience in the NBA will grant Nembhard the opportunity to progress into the caliber of guard Canada coach Jodi Fernandez wants on his team for Paris.

A second-round pick by the Pacers in 2022, Nembhard exceeded expectations as a rookie with 9.5 points and 4.5 assists per game in 75 appearances, 63 of which he started. The highlight of his young career came on a buzzer-beater against LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers in November, just days before he dropped 31 points against Stephen Curry and the Warriors.

KEVIN PANGOS, CANADA

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Team Canada could feature up to four former Gonzaga players next summer, and though roster space is limited, Pangos could earn himself minutes with his veteran presence and leadership on the court.

Pangos joined the Canadian national team late following the conclusion of the 2022-23 campaign at the club level in Italy, though he missed the FIBA World Cup entirely after he couldn't get his contract covered due to a pre-existing injury. The 30-year-old's experience playing internationally dates back to 2015 and includes stints in the LBA, EuroLeague and Liga ACB. Pangos last suited up for his home country at the 2019 World Cup, where he averaged 8.2 points and 5.2 assists per game.

Like Nembhard, Pangos will face stiff competition for playing time in a loaded backcourt.

FILIP PETRUSEV, SERBIA

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Petrusev was so close to delivering Serbia its first gold medal at the 2023 FIBA World Cup, but a second-place finish in a tournament without the team's (and arguably the world's) best player should bring optimism heading into next summer.

If former NBA MVP Nikola Jokic does indeed suit up, Serbia becomes one of the favorites to win gold in Paris, which would be quite the redemption arc for a team that failed to qualify for the 2020 Games. The Serbs feature a mix of veterans and young up-and-comers, including Petrsuev, and would certainly benefit from Jokic's selfless style of play.

There's a possibility that with Jokic, Petrusev's role in 2024 would be limited compared to the World Cup, where he sat out two of Serbia's first-round games. Regardless, the 6-foot-11 forward could return to the national team with a year of NBA experience under his belt.

RUI HACHIMURA, JAPAN

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There's a chance Hachimura will represent his home country next summer after the Japanese national team qualified for the 2024 Olympics despite missing its best player at the World Cup.

While the Los Angeles Lakers forward prepped for the upcoming NBA season, his home team pulled off a pair of must-win classification games against Venezuela and Cape Verde. With a first-round win over Finland, Japan was the only FIBA Asia club to win three games. Since the Japanese hosted the Olympics in 2021, it's the first time the national team qualified for the Olympics since 1976.

Hachimura would join a roster likely headlined by Phoenix Suns forward Yuta Watanabe and Washington State big man Josh Hawkinson, a naturalized Japanese citizen who averaged 21.0 points and 10.8 rebounds at the World Cup. Japan didn't have that kind of consistent production from anyone not named Hachimura or Watanabe at the 2020 Olympics, where the national team finished 11th in the 12-team field.

JOEL AYAYI, FRANCE

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Ayayi was a late scratch at the World Cup, though the 6-foot-5 guard could make his senior national team debut next summer on a loaded France squad that could feature a lot of NBA talent.

Along with Evan Fournier, Nicolas Batum and Rudy Gobert, the French are expected to feature Victor Wembanyama and could very well secure a commitment from reigning NBA MVP Joel Embiid. The Cameroonian has been courted heavily by France as well as Team USA, though he's been non-committal thus far on which country he'll play for.

In regard to Ayayi, who was supposed to replace the injured Fournier at the World Cup, he'd have to compete for a roster spot in a crowded backcourt that's more experienced than the 23-year-old. Ayayi's proven himself on the youth team, as he averaged 20.9 points and 5.6 rebounds in seven games at the FIBA U19 World Cup in 2019.

DOMANTAS SABONIS, LITHUANIA

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Sabonis' path to the 2024 Olympics will be more difficult than his fellow Zags, as Lithuania failed to qualify at the World Cup without its All-NBA power forward. The Lithuanians can still earn a trip to Paris with a strong showing in the last-chance qualifying tournament next July.

Even without Sabonis, Lithuania was dominant throughout its 5-0 start to the World Cup which included an upset win over Team USA to win Group J. Lithuania's size was too much to handle, as Jonas Valanciunas headlined a group that finished the tournament with the most total rebounds and blocked shots. 

A potential Sabonis-Valanciunas frontcourt would certainly elevate Lithuania's chances of qualifying for the 2024 Olympics, which would be Sabonis' second appearance on the global stage. The 6-foot-11 forward also competed on the Lithuania squad that finished seventh at the 2016 Rio Olympics.