Predicting USA Basketball’s subsequent Olympics males’s roster for 2028 Los Angeles Video games

America males’s basketball nationwide staff is an Olympic dynasty. Staff USA’s triumphant gold medal run on the 2024 Paris Olympics made it 5 straight gold medals — and eight of the final 9 — for this system. This explicit USA staff felt particular for thus many causes, notably as a result of it is going to be the Olympic swan track for among the biggest gamers of all-time.

Stephen Curry, LeBron James, and Kevin Durant carried Staff USA to gold. These are three of the top-15 gamers in NBA historical past, they usually characterize the strongest technology of American males’s basketball expertise because the core of 1992 Dream Staff. Curry and James shall be of their 40s in 2028 and have already indicated they gained’t be enjoying. Durant shall be months away from his fortieth birthday by the point the Los Angeles Video games come round.

The legends that saved USA Basketball in Paris gained’t be there in 2028. Staff USA must construct a brand new core at a time when the remainder of the world continues to slim the expertise hole the U.S. has at all times loved. America’ gold medal dynasty in a dangerous state getting into the Los Angeles Video games, and it might want to fully overhaul the roster to maintain it going.

Lots can change in 4 years, however right here’s our prediction for USA Basketball’s males’s roster on the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

Picture by Gregory Shamus/Getty Photos

Guards

• Anthony Edwards, G, Minnesota Timberwolves: Ant-Man is the largest lock for the 2028 USA roster. He was the youngest participant on Staff USA in Paris, and can flip 27 years outdated through the Los Angeles Video games. Ant-Man offers Staff USA an explosive backcourt scorer with elite athleticism and difficult shot-making potential all around the flooring. He may very well be this staff’s main scorer.
• Devin Booker, G, Phoenix Suns: Booker was considerably surprisingly named a starter in Paris, and carried out effectively as a connective piece round Staff USA’s three veteran superstars. He’ll be 31 years outdated in 2028, and could be able to step into a much bigger position if he needs to play. He ought to have a spot on this staff if he needs it.
• Tyrese Haliburton, G, Indiana Pacers: Haliburton was a part of the 2023 World Cup staff and 2024 Olympics staff, however he didn’t get off the bench in any respect in Paris. He’ll solely be 28 years outdated in 2028, and will go from the tip of the bench to the staff’s essential catalyst. USA Basketball has at all times been at its greatest getting up and down in transition, and enjoying quick is Haliburton’s specialty. He doesn’t really feel like a lock for the 2028 roster, however I’ll give him the sting over Jalen Brunson — who may have 4 extra years of enjoying for Tom Thibodeau on his legs by then.
• Ja Morant, G, Memphis Grizzlies: This was the toughest spot to select. Right here’s a brief listing of names thought-about: Tyrese Maxey, De’Aaron Fox, LaMelo Ball, Trae Younger, Derrick White, Amen Thompson, and Reed Sheppard. Morant looks like each the most secure guess to be a star producer in 2028, and arguably has the best upside. Think about a beginning backcourt of Morant and Edwards. Good luck staying in entrance of these guys.

Forwards

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• Kevin Durant, F, Phoenix Suns: Why not? Durant loves ball as a lot as anybody on the planet. He’d be getting ready to his fortieth birthday going for gold medal No. 5 in Los Angeles, however his mixture of measurement and capturing will nonetheless make him efficient. The ladies’s staff in Paris simply reserved a spot for a legend in Diana Taurasi over youthful stars, and KD may get the identical remedy in LA.
• Jayson Tatum, F, Boston Celtics: Tatum’s want to play in LA shall be maybe the largest storyline for the roster building. He was primarily mothballed by head coach Steve Kerr in Paris, and when he did get on the ground, he didn’t make a single bounce shot. He’ll be 30 years outdated in 2028, and will very effectively be the only greatest American-born participant alive at the moment. Whereas it’s potential his poor Olympic expertise in Paris may deter him from enjoying, Tatum has been a part of USA Basketball since he was 16 years outdated, and it’s laborious to stop a relationship that has lasted that lengthy.
• Paolo Banchero, F, Orlando Magic: Banchero looks as if the largest lock for the roster among the many forwards. He performed effectively for Staff USA on the 2023 FIBA World Cup, and has already chosen to decide to america over Italy. Banchero lacks elite athleticism and has struggled together with his scoring effectivity due to it, however he may nonetheless be among the best scorers on the earth in 2028 and has a recreation that works effectively for FIBA ball as a result of he’s sturdy sufficient to play by means of contact.
• Cooper Flagg, F, Duke: Flagg was already education NBA gamers at USA coaching camp this yr at simply 17 years outdated. He’s being hyped as the subsequent large factor in American basketball, and in my view he’s worthy of the reward. Flagg will solely be 21 years outdated in 2028 (!), however he’ll be adequate to make the staff and must be the way forward for this system. Different names thought-about for this spot: Brandon Miller, Scottie Barnes, Keegan Murray, Herb Jones, Trey Murphy III, Cameron Boozer, and AJ Dybantsa.
• Zion Williamson, F, New Orleans Pelicans: That is my wildcard selection to finish the roster. Williamson hasn’t lived as much as the hype to this point, however he lastly proved he may keep (principally) wholesome final season. He’ll solely be 28 years outdated in 2028, and nonetheless has an opportunity to be the face of American basketball at that time in his profession.

Bigs

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Will Anthony Davis and/or Joel Embiid play for Staff USA on the 2028 Olympics? I’m skeptical. Embiid shall be 34 years outdated, and his expertise in Paris was a little bit of a rollercoaster. Davis shall be 35 years outdated, and already has an extended harm historical past. My guess is each gamers are out, which suggests the Individuals want some new bigs.

• Chet Holmgren, C, Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder: Holmgren isn’t a standard FIBA large: his recreation relies extra round talent than pure energy, and he’s not precisely bodying anybody within the paint with a skinny body. Nonetheless, Holmgren’s perimeter talent on offense and rim safety on protection makes him America’s most promising younger heart. He’ll be 26 years outdated in 2028, and must be firmly within the prime of his profession as among the best bigs within the NBA.
• Bam Adebayo, C, Miami Warmth: Would Bam join a 3rd gold medal run? Staff USA higher hope so. Adebayo shall be 31 years outdated in 2028, and would supply extra beef inside for an American roster that can want somebody who can play with extra physicality within the paint.
• Dereck Vigorous II, C, Dallas Mavericks: Will Vigorous develop into sufficient of a scoring menace to make this staff? His rim safety is phenomenal, however he’ll have to enhance his offense to earn an invitation. Staff USA doesn’t have to hold three facilities with Flagg and Banchero large enough to man the 5 for stretches, but it surely’s at all times higher to have extra measurement in FIBA. The middle room is the largest query for Staff USA in 2028. We’ll give Vigorous a slight nod over Evan Mobley, Jaren Jackson Jr., Jarrett Allen, Jalen Duran, Kel’el Ware, and others.

Who’re the subsequent males up?

If Tatum, Durant, Adebayo, and Booker flip down an invite, who ought to Staff USA be eying? Tyrese Maxey looks like the most effective guard on the board, Brandon Miller is the most effective wing out there, Scottie Barnes works effectively as a two-way ahead. Keegan Murray is one other identify I maintain circling again to as a wing who can shoot threes with quantity and has sufficient defensive potential to remain on the ground.

USA males’s basketball is getting into a transition part forward of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Verify again in 4 years to see how shut we got here to precisely predicting the roster.