By Aidan Joly
When Team USA takes the court for the next Olympics as the 2028 hosts in Los Angeles, the squad could have a very different look.
This comes after Team USA’s 98-87 win over France in the gold medal game on Saturday, clinching a gold for the star-studded group and the program’s fifth straight gold.
As accomplished as the group was, it was also an old group – the oldest Team USA has ever fielded. It featured 39-year-old LeBron James, 36-year-old Stephen Curry and 35-year-old (soon to be 36) Kevin Durant. You can’t rule any of them out for 2028, but it’s unlikely that all three will still be playing in the NBA in 2028, much less the Olympics.
Some borderline cases are here with Joel Embiid and Anthony Davis, the former has expressed interest in playing for Cameroon in 2028 rather than the US. Davis will be 35 in 2028. Jrue Holiday and Derrick White seem unlikely to be back too.
That being said, here are my predictions for what Team USA will look like in 2-2028.
Anthony Edwards, guard
Age in 2028: 26
My 2028 roster does not contain a single MVP as of yet, but Edwards is most likely to change that sometime in the next four years. He just turned 23, is one of the league’s budding superstars and still has plenty of time to develop. It’s easy to see him being the face of Team USA in Los Angeles after getting a taste this time around.
Jayson Tatum, forward
Age in 2028: 30
After winning a title with the Celtics in June, Tatum was out of the rotation for much of these games, but that was in part due to being behind James and Durant. The path to playing time should be much clearer in 2028 and he should emerge as one of the veteran leaders in what would be his third Olympics.
Tyrese Haliburton, guard
Age in 2028: 28
Haliburton played a bit role off the bench during Team USA’s exhibition games before the Olympics, but we barely saw him during the Olympic games themselves. His game fits well in the FIBA system in terms of shooting and playmaking. He should have an argument to be the starting point guard in four years.
Devin Booker, guard
Age in 2028: 31
Los Angeles would be Booker’s third games and he should still be in the back half of his prime by the time it rolls around. He was a strong complementary piece to the stars of this year’s team and should have a larger role in 2028, especially defensively.
Bam Adebayo, center
Age in 2028: 30
A Team USA mainstay throughout the last few years, Adebayo has carved out a role as a bit player as a good defender who can play both power forward and center. The FIBA three-point line also makes things a little more comfortable for him playing inside.
That’s it for the returners, now onto the new players.
Jalen Brunson, guard
Age in 2028: 31
Some said Brunson’s exclusion in these Olympics with Haliburton getting the spot was a snub. He was arguably the best American player not in Paris. He’ll be over 30 in 2028, but he plays a skill-based game that should result in productivity well into his 30s. Brunson’s addition hinges on the assumption that Curry does not return.
Chet Holmgren, center
Age in 2028: 26
Holmgren should be a shoe-in for 2028. He’s one of the best young defenders in the league, and Team USA will need someone to defend Victor Wembanyama if they so happen to see France again in four years. They finished 1-2 in Rookie of the Year voting this season. His game translates very well to FIBA rules. He has experience with USA Basketball as part of the U19 team in 2021.
Paolo Banchero, forward
Age in 2028: 25
Banchero has played on the senior national team before, coming off the bench in the FIBA Basketball World Cup in 2023 after he originally committed to playing for Italy. He is one of the young offensive forces in the league right now and should be even better by 2028. He’ll give Team USA some much-needed size.
Jalen Williams, wing
Age in 2028: 27
I struggled with where to go for this wing spot, but I gave the nod to Williams based on his three-point shooting ability and his defense. He is one of the better young players in the league playing beside Holmgren and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in Oklahoma City. He should be able to carve out a depth role off the bench in 2028. He’ll be in his prime around then.
Cooper Flagg, wing
Age in 2028: 21
There was scuttlebutt about Flagg, just 17 right now, making the roster as the lone amateur player after he worked out with and held his own against the Olympic team earlier in the summer. He’s set to head to Duke in the fall and is already the consensus No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. He’s surely a future Olympian. A few knocks though: seniority matters, and only two players since 2004 have made Team USA before their 22nd birthday: Anthony Davis in 2012 and Keldon Johnson as a last-second add in 2021.
Zion Williamson, forward
Age in 2028: 28
Williamson and Tyrese Maxey were the lone players who received All-NBA votes this year but were not in the initial player pool. Williamson is finally coming into his own in the NBA after a few injury-plagued seasons to start his career. It’s impossible to say where he will be physically in four years, but if he’s healthy he should get a nod.
Ja Morant, guard
Age in 2028: 28
I was down to Morant and Donovan Mitchell for the last spot, but I went with Morant. He is one of the most electrifying players in the NBA right now and may have gotten more consideration if not for injury issues and a behavior-related suspension limiting him to just nine games in 2023-24. As long as he gets his career back on track, he would be a great candidate.
Other players considered: Kevin Durant (on 2024 roster), Joel Embiid (on 2024 roster), Anthony Davis (on 2024 roster), Jaylen Brown, Desmond Bane, Donovan Mitchell, Tyrese Maxey, Evan Mobley, Brandon Miller
AJ Hoops 