Utah fan-favorite Joe Ingles is going to the Tokyo Olympics with high hopes. The 33-year-old is a crucial piece to an Australian national team that won its three combined exhibition games against the USA, Nigeria, and Argentina.
These results were enough for the Boomers to overtake Team USA’s spot as the No. 1 team in the world, according to FIBA. Ingles has been an integral part of his squad’s early success, scoring 16 points in a thriller against Argentina and putting up 17 points, four rebounds, and three assists against Team USA.
“Jingles” and the Boomers are favored to finish at the top of Group B, which will feature Italy, Germany, and Nigeria. Again, Ingles’ first 2021 Olympic bout will come against fellow Jazzman Miye Oni and Nigeria at 2:30 a.m. MT Sunday.
Jazzmen have been competing at the international level this summer.</p>
<p>Here’s a glance at what they’ve each been up to, beginning with the one whose country came up just a bit short of a ticket to the Olympics:</p>
<h2>Utah Jazz forward Bojan Bogdanovic</h2>
<p>Jazz starting forward <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2021/07/21/utah-jazz-previewing-tokyo-olympics/3/"https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/bogdabo02.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener" ref="nofollow">Bojan Bogdanovic</a> represented Croatia a few weeks ago as they vied for a spot in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. During his country’s first two games, the 32-year-old looked worn from the NBA season, scoring 16 points in a loss to Brazil and then only 14 points on 28.6 percent shooting from the field in a win against Tunisia.</p>
<div class="embed "><iframe loading="lazy" width="500" height="281" src=https://thejnotes.com/2021/07/21/utah-jazz-previewing-tokyo-olympics/3/"https://www.youtube.com/embed/jrxWeGQ3hXg?feature=oembed%22 frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<p>Croatia’s 1-1 record in the group stage was enough to secure a spot in the knockout round versus Germany. There, Bogdanovic was finally able to get hot, scoring 38 points on an efficient 11-for-19 shooting from the field.</p>
<p>Despite his hot hand, they weren’t able to get past the German squad, falling 86-76. While “Bogey” will surely be disappointed in not making it to Tokyo, the extra time to rest <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2021/07/21/utah-jazz-previewing-tokyo-olympics/3/"https://thejnotes.com/2021/07/04/utah-jazz-benefit-bojan-bogdanovic/">should ultimately benefit the Jazz</a> next season.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #00265D" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://thejnotes.com/2021/07/21/utah-jazz-previewing-tokyo-olympics/3/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Miye Oni </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div class="embed "><iframe loading="lazy" width="500" height="281" src=https://thejnotes.com/2021/07/21/utah-jazz-previewing-tokyo-olympics/3/"https://www.youtube.com/embed/9fu6Kf_DfIU?feature=oembed%22 frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<h2>Utah Jazz wing Miye Oni playing for Nigeria</h2>
<p>Jazz reserve wing <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2021/07/21/utah-jazz-previewing-tokyo-olympics/3/"https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/o/onimi01.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener" ref="nofollow">Miye Oni</a> will be getting valuable experience as he heads to the Tokyo Olympics with the Nigerian national team. The squad went 2-1 during its recent exhibition play in Las Vegas, including a historic 90-87 win against Team USA in the opener and also a convincing 94-71 victory over Argentina.</p>
<p>Against the Americans, Oni played 11 minutes but hit two 3-pointers and contributed to the win nonetheless. The 23-year-old out of Yale finished that game with a stat line of six points, three rebounds, and two assists.</p>
<p>The Nigerians, who feature seven other NBA players alongside Oni, are sure to have their hands full in <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2021/07/21/utah-jazz-previewing-tokyo-olympics/3/"https://www.usab.com/mens/national-team/oly-schedule.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noopener">group play</a>. They will face off against Germany, Italy, and Australia. And all three of those upcoming opponents defeated them handily in exhibition play.</p>
<p>Miye Oni and Nigeria begin their Tokyo action in the Super Arena at 2:20 a.m. MT Sunday against Australia, which leads us to this next Olympic Jazzman:</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #00265D" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://thejnotes.com/2021/07/21/utah-jazz-previewing-tokyo-olympics/3/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Joe Ingles </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div class="embed "><iframe loading="lazy" width="500" height="281" src=https://thejnotes.com/2021/07/21/utah-jazz-previewing-tokyo-olympics/3/"https://www.youtube.com/embed/a4R2KW5qlvU?feature=oembed%22 frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<h2>Utah Jazz guard Joe Ingles playing for Australia</h2>
<p>Utah fan-favorite Joe Ingles is going to the Tokyo Olympics with high hopes. The 33-year-old is a crucial piece to an Australian national team that won its three combined exhibition games against the USA, Nigeria, and Argentina.</p>
<p>These results were enough for the Boomers to overtake Team USA’s spot as the <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2021/07/21/utah-jazz-previewing-tokyo-olympics/3/"https://www.fiba.basketball/olympics/men/2020/news/men-s-olympic-basketball-power-rankings-volume-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">No. 1 team in the world</a>, according to FIBA. Ingles has been an integral part of his squad’s early success, scoring 16 points in a thriller against Argentina and putting up 17 points, four rebounds, and three assists against Team USA.</p>
<p><strong>ALSO READ:</strong> <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2021/07/21/utah-jazz-previewing-tokyo-olympics/3/"https://thejnotes.com/2021/07/12/utah-jazz-joe-ingles-possible-golden/">Joe Ingles exhibiting possible golden stroke</a></p>
<p>“Jingles” and the Boomers are favored to finish at the top of Group B, which will feature Italy, Germany, and Nigeria. Again, Ingles’ first 2021 Olympic bout will come against fellow Jazzman Miye Oni and Nigeria at 2:30 a.m. MT Sunday.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #00265D" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://thejnotes.com/2021/07/21/utah-jazz-previewing-tokyo-olympics/3/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Rudy Gobert </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div class="embed "><iframe loading="lazy" width="500" height="281" src=https://thejnotes.com/2021/07/21/utah-jazz-previewing-tokyo-olympics/3/"https://www.youtube.com/embed/F0kXf-f5s-0?feature=oembed%22 frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<h2>Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert playing for France</h2>
<p>Two-time All-Star center <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2021/07/21/utah-jazz-previewing-tokyo-olympics/3/"https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/g/goberru01.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener" ref="nofollow">Rudy Gobert</a> has qualified for the Olympics as the main piece on the French national team. While France has plenty of NBA talent, the squad struggled during the Las Vegas exhibition play in preparation for its trip to Tokyo.</p>
<p>Gobert had 12 points and four rebounds in an 87-79 loss to Spain. The reigning NBA Defensive Player of the Year then totaled 11 points in a six-point loss to Rui Hachimura and the Japan national team.</p>
<p>Les Bleus will be relying on Gobert heavily once Group A play begins as they open versus Team USA at 6:00 a.m. MT Sunday in the Super Arena.</p>
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<p>After that, Rudy Gobert and France will see matchups against Iran and the Czech Republic in group action.</p><!—pageview_candidate—>">