The American men’s basketball team secured their fifth-consecutive Olympic gold medal in Paris last week but, a with a changing of the guard imminent, expect a different roster to take to the court in Los Angeles in four years’ time.
The fact that it will be a home Olympics for Team USA should entice many of the country’s biggest stars to make themselves available which has not always been the case.
Having been a part of this year’s gold medal winning roster, the likes of Anthony Edwards, Tyrese Haliburton, Jayson Tatum, Bam Adebayo and Devin Booker – the squad’s five-youngest players – will like their chances of being called upon in Los Angeles.
Celtics duo Derrick White and Jrue Holiday both seem unlikely – White was called into the squad following the late withdrawal of Kawhi Leonard and will be 34 whilst Holiday will be 38.
Joel Embiid and Anthony Davis will be two of the team’s elder statesmen by 2028 but are no guarantees due to their injury history.
The opportunity to play in front of Los Angeles fans will appeal to Davis who will be 35 by the time the 2028 Olympics rolls around.
Stephen Curry and LeBron James enjoyed what was a successful swansong in Paris with Curry earning a maiden gold and James taking home the tournament’s MVP.
Kevin Durant – who became the nation’s all-time leading Olympic scoring leader in Paris – will be 39 in 2028 but, given the manner in which his game has aged and the dedication he has shown Team USA throughout his career, it could be doable.
Whichever way you cut it, Team USA will have to look to their conveyor belt of new talent come 2028.
Paolo Banchero, 21, played well for them at the 2023 FIBA World Cup and projects to be one of the NBA’s most dynamic scoring wings whilst World Cup teammate Jalen Brunson, 27, is coming off one of the best individual seasons in Knick history and was considered this Olympics.
Mikal Bridges, 27, and Jaren Jackson Jr., 24, are the other two members from Team USA’s unsuccessful World Cup campaign who could be looked at particularly for defensive purposes.
The likes Tyrese Maxey, Donovan Mitchell, Trae Young, De’Aaron Fox and Ja Morant will vie for backcourt vacancies whilst players such as Zion Williamson, LaMelo Ball, and Cade Cunningham have the talent to shoot into consideration should they enjoy some luck health-wise.
Chet Holmgren and Evan Mobley look to be next in line among the American bigmen whilst reigning Finals MVP Jaylen Brown headlines an array of exciting wing talent including the likes of Jalen Williams, Scottie Barnes, and Brandon Miller.
Team USA officials will also look to defensive-minded players who can be effective off-ball with Herb Jones, Jalen Suggs, Josh Hart, Trey Murphy III, Jaden McDaniels and twins Amen and Ausar Thompson among potential options matching that archetype.
Of course, players who have not yet played an NBA game will be considered particularly given the optimism surrounding the next two draft classes.
Duke’s Cooper Flagg is the odds-on favourite to go No.1 next year with Rutgers teammates Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper also in the mix.
AJ Dybantsa – who is currently a high school star at Utah Prep – is atop 2026 draft boards along with Cameron Boozer, whose father Carlos won an Olympic gold medal with Team USA in Beijing in 2008.
