The Olympic basketball tournament is an exciting competition featuring some of the world’s best athletes for men and women. But how does the bracket system actually work? Let’s break it down.

The Group Stage

Currently, as of 7/31, the teams are competing in this stage of the Olympic Games.

  • Twelve teams are divided into three groups of four.
  • Each team plays three games against the other teams in their group.
  • The top two teams from each group advance to the quarterfinals.
  • The two best third-place teams also advance to the quarterfinals.

The Knockout Stage

  • Once the group stage is complete, a draw determines the quarterfinals matchups.
  • The top-ranked teams are separated to ensure they don’t meet in the early rounds.
  • Teams from the same group cannot play each other in the quarterfinals.
  • The tournament then follows a single-elimination format.
  • The winners of the quarterfinals advance to the semifinals.
  • The winners of the semifinals play in the gold medal game.
  • The losers of the semifinals play for the bronze medal.

Key Points

The group stage is crucial for determining which teams advance. Head-to-head results are used to break ties in the group stage. The knockout stage is high-stakes and full of drama.

In essence, the Olympic basketball tournament combines group play to establish initial rankings with a single-elimination format to determine the ultimate champion.