LeBron James will be 43 in 2028. Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry will be 40.
Anthony Davis and Joel Embiid will be 35 and 34, respectively. But with their knees, there’s no telling what these bigs will have left in the tank.
This isn’t meant to be a doomer’s elegy, lamenting the end of Team USA basketball as we know it. No. This is a sobering stream of thought discussing the place USA basketball finds itself in. The rest of the world is only getting better— the last six MVPs are not American-born players.
Ask any basketball fan to give you their top five active players, and they’ll likely give you some combination of Embiid, Nikola Jokic, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Luka Doncic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. None of these guys are Americans, and neither is Wemby, who may be in the MVP mix as early as this year.
Basketball is an ever-increasing global game, and the US will need to assemble forces of nature to take home gold once again. Gone are the days of 2020, when an Olympic team rostering JaVale McGee, Jerami Grant and Zach LaVine could squeak past the best the world had to offer for gold. The US is already at the disadvantage of their players getting a fraction of the on-court minutes together as most other teams benefit from.
This is why talent alone isn’t enough— you need to be tough, smart, and adaptive to leave a mark on an Olympic squad.
Who will be the “Derrick White” of 2028?:
Derrick White, a surprise fill-in for an injured Kawhi Leonard, played a massive role in Team USA’s path to gold this year.
Given the physical nature of international play, Grant Hill may swap out one of Jalen Brunson/Tyrese Haliburton/Devin Booker for a defensive-minded guard or switchable wing.
White will be 34 years old come summer 2028. While this doesn’t discount him altogether (Jrue Holiday played this summer), Hill might look to someone younger to fill this role. The first names that come to mind are Mikal Bridges, Jalen Suggs and Herb Jones.
None of these guys carry perennial All-Star status, but all of them have been named to an All-Defensive team and play the kind of hard-nosed ball that plays well into the international style of play. One of them could very well be the X-factor on a gold medal team.
Wildcards
Predicting the future is a fool’s errand, as wildcards always seem to slip into the deck. The big-time wildcards in predicting the Olympic team are a) injuries and b) players turning down invitations.
Whether it’s the All-Star, FIBA, or Olympic teams, the unanticipated injury always prevents at least one star from taking part in summer hoops. It’s never something to anticipate, but always something to plan for.
Another wildcard in the deck is declined invitations. Hopefully, the effort of LeBron, Steph, and Durant to revitalize the importance of USA Basketball does not go in vain. Representing your country on the court is an honor that these legends brandished this summer with the utmost sincerity and dedication. After a near-decade of veteran players declining invitations for a myriad of reasons, the effort of LeBron, Curry, and KD seems to have changed the narrative for young guys.
Speaking of young guys, there’s also the chance that some young players hit an accelerated growth curve in their development and make the cut over the likes of aging veterans. Jaylen Brown, Devin Booker, Jalen Brunson and Bam Adebayo will all be on the wrong side of 30 come the 2028 Olympics. This pool of promising young talent includes Evan Mobley, Tyrese Maxey, Cade Cunningham, LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller, Scottie Barnes and Jalen Johnson.
All of this is to say that there are a lot of variables to account for over even a single year of basketball, much less four years. This list might be spot on, or it could look really silly when 2028 rolls around. So please take it with a grain of salt and remember, this is just one guy’s opinion.
Starters
G: Ja Morant (28 years old for 2028 Olympics)
Oh, how the people forget. Only six players in NBA history averaged 27/5/5 before their 23rd birthday.
Those players are Oscar Robertson, Michael Jordaan, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Luka Doncic, and yes, Ja Morant. Ja can do just about anything with the rock in his hands, and that includes being the floor general for a mega-talented Olympic team.
G: Anthony Edwards (27 years old for 2028 Olympics)
The thought of an Ant/Ja backcourt would have NBA fans salivating at the mouth.
It’s not just Ant’s aura, his high-flying jams, or his ridiculous shot-making that make him the perfect face of Team USA going forward. It’s his unrelenting commitment to getting better day in and day out that makes him a natural leader to set the example for the rest of this squad.
F: Jayson Tatum (30 years old for 2028 Olympics)
After getting benched for significant portions of Team USA’s road to gold this summer, Tatum’s hunger to earn his way into the starting lineup is going to be enormous.
There doesn’t appear to be any bad blood between Tatum and Steve Kerr, as Kerr said that “[Tatum] couldn’t have handled it better” in regards to Tatum getting benched. With this relationship intact and Tatum on the quest to add to his hardware collection of two gold medals and a ring, expect JT to be a big part of Team USA come 2028.
F: Paolo Banchero (25 years old for 2028 Olympics)
Banchero is rapidly ascending the ranks of the best forwards in the league at just 21 years old.
The Orlando Magic’s head coach, Jamahl Mosely, compared Paolo’s game to a fusion of Carmelo Anthony and LeBron James. The rare combination of strength, footwork, and athleticism that Paolo possesses makes his game tailored to international play. While guys with a smaller frame often struggle in Olympic play, Banchero’s ability to get to his spots and absorb contact will be key.
C: Chet Holmgren (26 years old for 2028 Olympics)
There’s not enough good things you can say about Chet Holmgren‘s game.
He’s one of the most gifted shot blockers we’ve ever seen at 22 years old. His ability to stretch the floor does incredible things in opening up your offense. He’s a unicorn in every sense of the term. With great talent comes great responsibility, and Chet will be tasked with of responsibility of holding down the paint and going up against bigs that are much heavier and much more experienced than him.
Reserves
G: Jalen Brunson (32 years old for 2028 Olympics)
Brunson could be the elder statesman on this Olympic squad.
Once a role player, then a star, and now a bonafide superstar in one of the biggest sports markets in the world, Brunson just keeps getting better. His commitment to sharpening his axe off the court will bode well for him into his 30s as he looks to add to a rapidly growing resume of accolades.
G: Tyrese Haliburton (28 years old for 2028 Olympics)
Haliburton appeared in just three games in this year’s Olympic run, averaging a team-low 8.7 minutes per game in those outings.
Every other member of the Olympic team nearly doubled that. With four more years to hone his craft, expect this lack of playing time to light a fire under Hali, who looks to lead the league in assists for the second consecutive year.
G: Devin Booker (31 years old for 2028 Olympics)
Book went full microwave mode on Team USA’s road to gold this summer, as his scoring 57% from behind the arc was the best mark on the team. One of the best pure scorers in the league, expect Booker to continue to polish his game and be a weapon of the bench in 2028.
F: Jaylen Brown (31 years old for 2028 Olympics)
Call me a glutton for redemption arcs, but Jaylen Brown and Grant Hill joining forces in 2028 after this year’s drama would be incredible. Jaylen brings the championship pedigree, the defensive chops, and the veteran leadership needed to go for gold.
F: Jalen Williams (27 years old for 2028 Olympics)
Williams seeks to join teammate Chet Holmgren as two of the youngest players on this Olympic squad. By 2028 the Thunder may have built a dynasty and have championship(s) under their belt. At any rate, Jalen Williams‘ length, defensive switchability, playmaking, and shot-making all bode well for the Olympic style of play.
F: Cooper Flagg (21 years old for 2028 Olympics)
The most hyped American-born prospect since perhaps LeBron James, Flagg has been heralded as a future All-Star since his mixtapes reached viral status over two years ago. The Duke commit has a long way to go to bring this to fruition, but the talent is there.
C: Bam Adebayo (31 years old for 2028 Olympics)
Though he’s yet to capture that elusive DPOY trophy, the 5x All-Defensive Team big is one of the best defenders in the game. Depending on how much muscle Chet can put on that wiry frame of his, having a broad-shouldered big like Bam will provide an excellent complement, especially if teams want to play physically.
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