On the surface, the US men’s basketball team’s gold medal performance at the Paris Olympics was the standard. It was the fifth straight gold medal that Team USA has won, continuing the dominance that America has held on the hardwood for decades.
That said, one prevailing storyline encapsulated the entire world during this run: it was the definitive end of an era of American basketball.
LeBron James and Steph Curry, two of the best players the game has ever seen, will be in their 40s by the time the 2028 Olympics roll around, and both will almost certainly be enjoying retirement by that point. Kevin Durant will be just months from his 40th birthday by that time as well. Teammates Joel Embiid, Anthony Davis, Jrue Holiday, and Derrick White will all be in their mid-30s. It’s reasonable to assume most, if not all, of these name will not be donning the red, white and blue when the team tries to retain their gold medal in Los Angeles.
Needless to say, 2028 will be a transition year for the United States as they look to establish a new long-term core to build their program around. Given how the rest of the world has developed their own talent pools, home-court advantage does not make the US an automatic gold medal team. Serbia nearly knocked the United States out in the semifinals and are led by perennial MVP candidate Nikola Jokic. Silver medalist France boasts the last two top picks in the NBA Draft (Victor Wembanyama and Zacharie Risacher), and both should have significant pro experience under their belts before the next Olympics. Spain, Germany, Australia, and Canada all also have their cores in place. The talent gap the United States once had on the rest of the world has all but closed, and 2028 could very well be the year that finally signifies that the rest of the world has caught up to the American juggernaut.
Despite all of that, Team USA will still have an embarrassment of riches to choose from as they seek to defend their title. Of course, there will be plenty of factors that go into choosing the next Olympic squad, and director Grant Hill will have to consider all of them as they replace possibly over half of their current group.
Who will be chosen to represent the USA in Los Angeles? Let’s find out.
Criteria
To start, it’s important to lay out some ground rules to provide some clear context of the choices being made here.
- Steve Kerr will likely be replaced as head coach in 2028, as Team USA had some rough patches and controversy with player usage, as well as his Golden State Warriors likely going to decline by this point. For now, I’ll tab Miami Heat coach and Team USA assistant Erik Spoelstra as the head coach going into 2028, citing some level of continuity while also acknowledging the Heat punching well above their weight class in recent years.
- An emphasis was placed on youth for this exercise, as Team USA will likely be looking for players who can compete not just in 2028, but also beyond. As such, the cutoff age for this team was 34, so the aforementioned names on the list, as well as the likes of Damian Lillard, Paul George, and James Harden were not considered. That said, I am willing to name them as honorable mentions at my discretion.
- Given that this team will largely be new, pre-existing chemistry will also play a role in some decisions. Prior experience on Team USA and having teammates in the NBA will hold some merit here.
With that said, let’s reveal the team.
Guards
Anthony Edwards (Minnesota Timberwolves): The closest thing there is to a lock when it comes to who will make Team USA in 2028. Edwards was the youngest player on 2024’s rendition and, given he will only be 27 in 2028, he stands to be a fixture for the Americans for years. An explosive scorer and rapidly improving defender, Edwards could very well be the best American player by the time the Olympics roll around. An MVP or Minnesota winning a championship would make this a bigger no-brainer than it already is.
Devin Booker (Phoenix Suns): A starter for Team USA in Paris, it stands to reason that Booker will be one of its leaders in 2028. Turning 31 in 2028, Booker will be valued for his shooting ability, defense, and backcourt versatility. Depending on the makeup of Team USA, Booker could be a valuable starter at either point guard or shooting guard. Regardless, it will be a good problem for the United States to have.
Jalen Brunson (New York Knicks): While Brunson has never been on an Olympic team before, he’s no stranger to Team USA or the international stage. He was the captain of the 2023 FIBA World Cup team, and he has dedicated himself to improving at the NBA level. He has shown the ability to facilitate and control the tempo of a game, and notoriously defense-oriented Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau could help Brunson develop into a hard-nosed guard on the defensive end as well. He will be 31 in 2028 and his small stature could serve as a knock on him for international play, but Brunson has a good shot of making his first Olympic team in Los Angeles.
Tyrese Haliburton (Indiana Pacers): The last guard spot was difficult to the backcourt being where the greatest amount of depth for Team USA is; it’s very possible that this leads to five guards being chosen for Los Angeles. For now, Haliburton’s experience with Team USA gives him the nod, despite him not playing much in Paris. He was a good sport about his lack of minutes, however, and him being only 28 means that he fits perfectly with the outlined philosophy. Whereas Brunson will slow the pace of the game and create more measured opportunities, Haliburton will push the tempo instead to open the offense up and involve everybody on the court. A point guard duo of Haliburton and Brunson that will keep opposing teams off-balance and dictate the flow of the game would be a tremendous boost for Team USA.
Forwards
Jayson Tatum (Boston Celtics): Tatum’s participation will be a massive storyline for Team USA in 2028. Despite winning an NBA championship with the Celtics, he never saw the court much in Paris, resulting in the risk of a fractured relationship with Team USA. With that being said, I think this usage is more of a Steve Kerr problem, and the choice is clear between who to bring in between America’s top forward and a coach with multiple worthy replacements. With what he brings to the table in all aspects of play, a then 30-year-old Tatum is a lock to join Team USA if he wants the spot, and guaranteed minutes should be no problem to find.
Paolo Banchero (Orlando Magic): Banchero choosing to represent the United States over Italy internationally was huge for the Americans, securing a versatile forward who can play multiple positions. Another World Cup player in 2023, Banchero has gotten better at the NBA level and has lifted a once-moribund Magic team to a higher echelon. He should be one of the NBA’s best scorers by 2028 at just 25 years old, and his combination of size and speed could make him a matchup nightmare in international play for years to come.
Mikal Bridges (New York Knicks): Bridges is not the lock that Tatum and Banchero are, but Team USA will undoubtedly develop a soft spot for him. He is the classic case of a “3 & D” wing, and he’s proven that both in the NBA and in international play. He can hit shots from anywhere on the court, offers some shot creation, and can guard any player that he’s asked to. His Villanova and now Knicks teammate Brunson will also certainly put in a good word for him if he needs any other recommendations. Expect Brunson and Bridges to be the leaders of Team USA’s second unit.
Jalen Williams (Oklahoma City Thunder): The Thunder have emerged as one of the NBA’s fastest-rising teams, and Williams’s own breakout year played a major role. Just two seasons into his NBA career, Williams has blossomed into a two-way star with accurate shooting at all levels and versatile defense. Playing with other young stars (one of which is coming later on this roster), Williams doesn’t need to have the ball in his hands often to do his damage. He’s a young, low-maintenance player that Team USA will certainly appreciate.
Brandon Miller (Charlotte Hornets): Miller will only be 25 when the 2028 Olympics arrive, giving him plenty of time to develop and lock his spot in the Team USA lineup, Similar to Bridges and Williams, Miller is a versatile forward who can shoot the ball well, defend most positions on the court, and provide some passing ability. Miller’s youth, however, could give him the leg up, especially if he can do what Banchero has done in Orlando with Charlotte. There will be stiff competition for both a spot and minutes in the rotation, but the idea of Miller becoming a Team USA fixture is too enticing to ignore here.
Bigs
Bam Adebayo (Miami Heat): With Embiid and Davis both disqualified from this roster due to aging out, Adebayo is the only big man from Paris to be in Los Angeles. Having his coach Spoelstra elevated to head coach would only solidify his position further. He will be a nightmare defensively with enough strength and quickness to guard anyone on the court, and he’ll always look for the smart plays on offense. Another low-maintenance player for Team USA, and he can be safely penciled in as the starting center in Los Angeles.
Chet Holmgren (Oklahoma City Thunder): Whereas Adebayo is the only safe holdover on the roster, Holmgren is the fresh face likeliest to make his Olympic debut in LA. He offers a similar skillset to Davis with his skill and versatility on both ends of the court, making him that much more appealing of an option for Team USA. The fact that he has international experience against a likely long-term thorn in Team USA’s side in Wembanyama also serves to Holmgren’s credit.
Jaren Jackson Jr. (Memphis Grizzlies): Out of all of the players on this list, Jackson’s spot is likely the one most in peril. That said, he’s one of the best interior defenders the US has to choose from right now, and Team USA knows that they will need to find some physicality inside soon with Adebayo being 31 in 2028. There’s a chance a young big man comes along to take that spot, but Jackson has the inside track for now.
Honorable Mentions
Tyrese Maxey (Philadelphia 76ers, Guard): Haliburton’s leading competition for a spot, and the likeliest option to join if a fifth guard spot gets added. Maxey has progressed dramatically over the past year or so, but he will need to continue that progress to cement his spot.
Donovan Mitchell (Cleveland Cavaliers, Guard): Another part of Team USA who has yet to make an Olympic roster, Mitchell’s scoring prowess is well-documented by now. What sets him apart is that he is a better defender than the likes of Brunson and Haliburton right now, which could give him a spot if Team USA values defense like they did in 2024.
Ja Morant (Memphis Grizzlies, Guard): There’s no denying Morant’s explosive scoring ability, but recent off-court issues and injuries have dampened his chances to be on Team USA. If he can keep his nose clean and develop a consistent three-point shot, however, it will be much more difficult to leave him off.
Jalen Suggs (Orlando Magic, Guard): Suggs is a dark horse candidate to make a leap for 2028. He’d be a fantastic defensive complement for Team USA’s backcourt, but he will need to continue flashing his offensive skills to earn his place there. Having Banchero to vouch for him certainly wouldn’t hurt.
Kevin Durant (Phoenix Suns, Forward): Durant might be 39 going into the 2028 Olympics, but Team USA has never been opposed to keeping elder statesmen around. Just like choosing Diana Taurasi over Caitlin Clark and other young players for the women’s team in Paris, Hill may elect to hold off committing too much to the youth movement and bring KD back if he’s still playing at a high enough level.
Jaylen Brown (Boston Celtics, Forward): There’s no denying that Brown is one of the top 12 American players right now, and his style of play would fit seamlessly in international play. That said, the Finals MVP took his exclusion from Paris a bit too harshly, and there’s the chance that the bridge between the two sides can’t be mended in time for Los Angeles.
Cooper Flagg (Duke University, Forward): Everyone has touted Flagg as the consensus number one pick for 2025, he will only be 21 for the Olympics, and he was shown to dominate NBA players at Team USA’s training camp. While it’s too much projection to place Flagg on this list for now, a great year at Duke followed by three strong years in the NBA could change that quickly.
Scottie Barnes (Toronto Raptors, Forward): Barnes’s candidacy would be a lot better if we knew about the three names in front of him, as he’s in the same tier as Williams and Miller for younger options. He’d be the top choice for now if injuries struck any of the forwards down.
Anthony Davis (Los Angeles Lakers, Big): Another potential holdover, Davis would get a nod if he still wanted to play due to his defense and versatility. While he may be 35 and his injury history is a bit spotty, it would be difficult for Team USA to leave a Laker off the team in Los Angeles.
Evan Mobley (Cleveland Cavaliers, Big): The biggest competition to Jackson right now, Mobley certainly has the defensive part of his game down pat. What will hold him off Team USA, however, is that his shot hasn’t quite come around yet. Four years is plenty of time, though, and further development could lock Mobley into a roster spot.
Zion Williamson (New Orleans Pelicans, Big): Health will be the biggest question mark with Williamson, and his on-ball style of play is rarely one that gains fans with the Team USA braintrust. Still, he would be the ideal Embiid replacement as a physical offensive force who can explode in front of the basket, assuming that’s what Team USA still desires that element.
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