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LeBron James and Stephen Curry won’t be there. Let’s predict Team USA’s men’s basketball roster for 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
The United States men’s basketball national team is an Olympic dynasty. Team USA’s triumphant gold medal run at the 2024 Paris Olympics made it five straight gold medals — and eight of the last nine — for the program. This particular USA team felt special for so many reasons, particularly because it will be the Olympic swan song for some of the greatest players of all-time.
Stephen Curry, LeBron James, and Kevin Durant carried Team USA to gold. Those are three of the top-15 players in NBA history, and they represent the strongest generation of American men’s basketball talent since the core of 1992 Dream Team. Curry and James will be in their 40s in 2028 and have already indicated they won’t be playing. Durant will be months away from his 40th birthday by the time the Los Angeles Games come around.
The legends that saved USA Basketball in Paris won’t be there in 2028. Team USA needs to build a new core at a time when the rest of the world continues to narrow the talent gap the U.S. has always enjoyed. The United States’ gold medal dynasty in a perilous state entering the Los Angeles Games, and it will need to completely overhaul the roster to keep it going.
A lot can change in four years, but here’s our prediction for USA Basketball’s men’s roster at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
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Guards
Anthony Edwards, G, Minnesota Timberwolves: Ant-Man is the biggest lock for the 2028 USA roster. He was the youngest player on Team USA in Paris, and will turn 27 years old during the Los Angeles Games. Ant-Man gives Team USA an explosive backcourt scorer with elite athleticism and tough shot-making ability all over the floor. He could be this team’s primary scorer.
Devin Booker, G, Phoenix Suns: Booker was somewhat surprisingly named a starter in Paris, and performed well as a connective piece around Team USA’s three veteran superstars. He’ll be 31 years old in 2028, and would be ready to step into a bigger role if he wants to play. He should have a spot on this team if he wants it.
Tyrese Haliburton, G, Indiana Pacers: Haliburton was part of the 2023 World Cup team and 2024 Olympics team, but he didn’t get off the bench at all in Paris. He’ll only be 28 years old in 2028, and could go from the end of the bench to the team’s main catalyst. USA Basketball has always been at its best getting up and down in transition, and playing fast is Haliburton’s specialty. He doesn’t feel like a lock for the 2028 roster, but I’ll give him the edge over Jalen Brunson — who could have four more years of playing for Tom Thibodeau on his legs by then.
Ja Morant, G, Memphis Grizzlies: This was the hardest spot to pick. Here’s a short list of names considered: Tyrese Maxey, De’Aaron Fox, LaMelo Ball, Trae Young, Derrick White, Amen Thompson, and Reed Sheppard. Morant feels like both the safest bet to be a star producer in 2028, and arguably has the highest upside. Imagine a starting backcourt of Morant and Edwards. Good luck staying in front of those guys.
Forwards
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Kevin Durant, F, Phoenix Suns: Why not? Durant loves ball as much as anyone on the planet. He’d be on the brink of his 40th birthday going for gold medal No. 5 in Los Angeles, but his combination of size and shooting will still make him effective. The women’s team in Paris just reserved a spot for a legend in Diana Taurasi over younger stars, and KD could get the same treatment in LA.
Jayson Tatum, F, Boston Celtics: Tatum’s desire to play in LA will be perhaps the biggest storyline for the roster construction. He was essentially mothballed by head coach Steve Kerr in Paris, and when he did get on the floor, he didn’t make a single jump shot. He’ll be 30 years old in 2028, and could very well be the single best American-born player alive at that time. While it’s possible his poor Olympic experience in Paris could deter him from playing, Tatum has been part of USA Basketball since he was 16 years old, and it’s hard to quit a relationship that has lasted that long.
Paolo Banchero, F, Orlando Magic: Banchero seems like the biggest lock for the roster among the forwards. He played well for Team USA at the 2023 FIBA World Cup, and has already chosen to commit to the United States over Italy. Banchero lacks elite athleticism and has struggled with his scoring efficiency because of it, but he could still be one of the best scorers in the world in 2028 and has a game that works well for FIBA ball because he’s strong enough to play through contact.
Cooper Flagg, F, Duke: Flagg was already schooling NBA players at USA training camp this year at just 17 years old. He’s being hyped as the next big thing in American basketball, and in my opinion he’s worthy of the praise. Flagg will only be 21 years old in 2028 (!), but he’ll be good enough to make the team and should be the future of the program. Other names considered 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: This is my wildcard choice to complete the roster. Williamson hasn’t lived up to the hype so far, but he finally proved he could stay (mostly) healthy last season. He’ll only be 28 years old in 2028, and still has a chance to be the face of American basketball at that point in his career.
Bigs
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Will Anthony Davis and/or Joel Embiid play for Team USA at the 2028 Olympics? I’m skeptical. Embiid will be 34 years old, and his experience in Paris was a bit of a rollercoaster. Davis will be 35 years old, and already has a long injury history. My guess is both players are out, which means the Americans need some new bigs.
Chet Holmgren, C, Oklahoma City Thunder: Holmgren isn’t a traditional FIBA big: his game is based more around skill than pure power, and he’s not exactly bodying anyone in the paint with a thin frame. Still, Holmgren’s perimeter skill on offense and rim protection on defense makes him America’s most promising young center. He’ll be 26 years old in 2028, and should be firmly in the prime of his career as one of the best bigs in the NBA.
Bam Adebayo, C, Miami Heat: Would Bam sign up for a third gold medal run? Team USA better hope so. Adebayo will be 31 years old in 2028, and would provide more beef inside for an American roster that will need someone who can play with more physicality in the paint.
Dereck Lively II, C, Dallas Mavericks: Will Lively become enough of a scoring threat to make this team? His rim protection is phenomenal, but he’ll have to improve his offense to earn an invite. Team USA doesn’t have to carry three centers with Flagg and Banchero big enough to man the five for stretches, but it’s always better to have more size in FIBA. The center room is the biggest question for Team USA in 2028. We’ll give Lively a slight nod over Evan Mobley, Jaren Jackson Jr., Jarrett Allen, Jalen Duran, Kel’el Ware, and others.
Who are the next men up?
If Tatum, Durant, Adebayo, and Booker turn down an invitation, who should Team USA be eying? Tyrese Maxey feels like the best guard on the board, Brandon Miller is the best wing available, Scottie Barnes works well as a two-way forward. Keegan Murray is another name I keep circling back to as a wing who can shoot threes with volume and has enough defensive ability to stay on the floor.
USA men’s basketball is entering a transition phase ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Check back in four years to see how close we came to accurately predicting the roster.
