Team USA Basketball Should Consider These Guys In 2028
With the iconic 2024 wrapping up their chase for gold fueled by Lebron James, Kevin Durant, and Steph Curry, it turns over a new leaf for USA basketball. Those three guys are likely done competing in the Olympics, as they will all be near or over the age of 40 years when the Olympics come to Los Angeles in 2028.
We know a handful of guys from the gold-winning 2024 squad will be back for 2028. Guys like Anthony Edwards, Jayson Tatum, Devin Booker, Bam Adebayo, Tyrese Haliburton, and maybe Anthony Davis all could return. But who will be the supporting cast around them the next time they sport the red, white, and blue? These guys should get consideration.
10. Cooper Flagg
This one is a big jump of a prediction, but theres a chance. Cooper Flagg hasn’t even played in the NBA yet, but at 17 years old, he has had the luxury of practicing with and against the 2024 team leading up to the Olympics. He’s already believed to be the unanimous first-overall pick in his draft class.
By the time 2028 rolls around, Flagg will be 22 years old. Anthony Edwards was the youngest player on the 2024 team, being 23 years old at the time. It’s possible, but it might be a long shot.
9. Chet Holmgren
If Anthony Davis doesn’t return for the 2028 rendition of Team USA, this team will be hurting for bigs. While Chet Holmgren might not be a traditional big, he could be on the radar. Holmgren won gold as part of the 2021 FIBA Men’s U19 World Cup team. He won the World Cup MVP to cap off the tournament. Last season, he averaged 2.3 blocks a game, a presence that Team USA could use.
8. Cade Cunningham
While finding guards shouldn’t be a problem for Team USA, Cade Cunningham could get some consideration. By that time, it might be his first chance to win something as he’s unfortunately stuck in Detroit.
Cunningham is also a great playmaker who could likely find a way to gel with all the other stars. He might not make the final cut, but he wouldn’t be a bad addition to the squad. He’ll be just 26 in 2028, likely just hitting his early prime years.
7. Scottie Barnes
Another weird player that’s somewhere between a wing and a big, Scottie Barnes could be in the discussion in 2028. Just like Cunningham, Barnes seems like he could find a way to survive and gel with the bigger stars around him.
Every team needs role players. Barnes would be a top-tier role player in this situation. Last season he averaged 1.3 steals per game and 1.5 blocks per game. Team USA could use that.
6. Evan Mobley
This could be Team USA’s best answer to a true big if Anthony Davis doesn’t play again. Evan Mobley might be thin, but he could go great on the 2028 squad. He’s already elite on the defensive side, averaging 1.4 blocks per game last season for the Cavaliers.
He finished third in the Defensive Player of the Year voting in 2023. He’s lengthy, athletic, can pass the ball, and defend. What super team wouldn’t want that?
5. Donovan Mitchell
Another Cavaliers star, Donovan Mitchell found himself on the 2019 USA World Cup Team that ended up finishing seventh, so this could be unfinished business for him. He will likely be one of the guards first in line to make the team due to him being 32 years old at the time. Mitchell averaged six assists last season for the Cavaliers. A good playmaker and shot-maker for Team USA potentially.
4. Zion Williamson
This one hinges entirely on Zion Williamson’s health at the time, but if he can be there, it feels like a foregone conclusion. He is once again a weirdly sized big man, but that seems like it could be a theme for the 2028 team if Davis doesn’t show up. How fun does it sound to have Williamson and Anthony Edwards on the same team? Talk about being able to jump out of the gym.
3. Ja Morant
Speaking of jumping out of the gym, Ja Morant could have a big chance to crack the 2028 roster. Unfortunately, he only played nine games last season in the NBA. According to his agent, he’s coming for it all this season. If Morant can return to his game, he’s one of the most explosive young stars in the NBA.
Although it was a small sample size, he averaged 8.1 assists per game last season, and he has the total package on offense. If he can stay out of trouble, he should be on Team USA in 2028. If the committee selecting the team doesn't want Morant, Jalen Brunson could be another great option.
2. Paolo Banchero
A rising star in the NBA, Paolo Banchero is a guy who will be on the 2028 USA squad. He’s an athletic big who can do it all. He will be just 25 years old in 2028, setting himself up to win multiple gold medals over his career if everything goes well. Banchero has a World Cup, but his next goal will be the gold medal in Los Angeles. Could he be Team USA’s next Carmelo Anthony?
1. Jaylen Brown
This one has to be a lock, right? Jaylen Brown made it clear he was unhappy about not being on the 2024 team and it’s tough to blame him. He’s coming off a season that saw him win Finals MVP and Eastern Conference Finals MVP, being a huge part of the Celtics championship run. Brown was in the beginning player pool for the 2024 team but didn’t end up on the team.
He did win gold with USA at the FIBA Americas U18 Championship in 2014 and was a part of the 2019 World Cup team that finished seventh. The reigning Finals MVP will be 32 in 2028, deserving of a spot on the Olympic team along with his teammate Jayson Tatum who will play a much bigger role on the team in 2028.
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