The South Sudan men’s basketball team is ready to make its Olympic debut – and they will get a shot at Team USA in the 2024 Summer Olympics. 

The quick rise of the South Sudan Basketball Federation (South Sudan gained independence as a nation in 2011, less than two decades ago) is one of the feel-good stories of this year’s Olympics — and a nod to the efforts of former NBA star Luol Deng – who is the president and assistant coach for the club. 

The South Sudan men’s basketball team had a strong performance in their international debut at the 2023 World Cup and qualified for the Olympics. 

Will this team make a run in Paris in its first appearance? Here’s a look inside the South Sudan men’s basketball team. 

MORE: Updated medal odds to beat USA at the 2024 Olympics

South Sudan basketball roster at 2024 Olympics

The South Sudan men’s basketball team features two players with NBA experience in Carlik Jones and Wenyen Gabriel. JT Thor, who is on the 15-man roster, played three seasons for Charlotte. 

Gabriel played five games for the Memphis Grizzlies last season. Jones played seven games with Chicago in the 2022-23 season. The rest of the roster features several international players. 

A look at the 12-man roster: 

South Sudan basketball coaches

Royal Ivey, who played 11 seasons in the NBA and is a current assistant coach for the Houston Rockets, is the head coach for South Sudan. Deng, who was born in Wau, Sudan, played 16 seasons in the NBA. He is an assistant coach for this year’s team. Fortune Solomon also is an assistant coach. 

Is Bol Bol on the South Sudan roster? 

Phoenix forward Bol Bol – the son of Sudan basketball legend Manute Bol – was on the South Sudan 25-man training roster, but he will not play in the 2024 Summer Olympics. Bol Bol averaged 5.2 points per game for the Suns last season. 

Manute Bol – a 7-foot-7 center who played 13 seasons in the NBA from 1985-97 – is the country’s most famous basketball player. He died in 2010. 

MORE: Ranking Team USA’s best players, from Stephen Curry to Derrick White

How South Sudan reached the Olympics

South Sudan qualified for the 2024 Summer Olympics with an impressive showing in the 2023 World Cup. South Sudan finished 3-2, which was good for 17th place and the automatic berth for Africa in the Olympics. 

In pool play, South Sudan lost to Puerto Rico 101-96 in overtime, beat China 89-69 and lost to Serbia 115-83. 

In the classification round, South Sudan beat the Philippines 87-68 and beat Angola 101-78. Jones and Gabriel impressed in the tournament, and South Sudan averaged 91.6 points per game. 

That has created some excitement heading into Paris. 

South Sudan Olympic basketball schedule 

South Sudan will play in Pool C in the men’s basketball tournament. The other teams in Pool C are Serbia, Puerto Rico and the United States. 

South Sudan’s pool schedule

• Sunday, July 28: vs. Puerto Rico (11 a.m. ET) 
• Wednesday, July 31: vs. United States (9 p.m. ET) 
• Saturday, Aug. 3: vs. Serbia (9 p.m. ET) 

History of Africa basketball teams in the Olympics

A look at how teams from FIBA Africa have fared in men’s basketball at the Olympics. 

Egypt is the only team to finish in the top 10. The Egyptian men’s basketball team finished 3-3 and took ninth place in the 1952 Summer Olympics. 

Angola was the last team to win more than one game at the Summer Olympics. Angola finished 2-5 in 1996 – four years after losing 116-48  to the 1992 Dream Team in Barcelona. 

FIBA Africa teams at the Olympics