Team USA's Next Squad

The 2028 Olympic Basketball team won't feature LeBron or Steph, so who makes the squad?

The Winter Olympics has me all jacked up about what USA Basketball could look like at the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles. Some big names have already said they’re out so that leaves room for some new blood. No one asked me to, but I’m excited to fill those roster spots.

STEPH CURRY and LEBRON JAMES have both stated they’re not interested in playing. The full article from ESPN is here if you’re interested. KEVIN DURANT has told The Athletic he will be back on the team, which is great. I love a veteran presence and a guy who knows what it takes to win gold. It doesn’t hurt that KD is the 6th, soon to be 5th, highest scorer in NBA history and can still get buckets from all three levels any time he wants. I have to assume some of our key contributors will be back, and a few guys who didn’t get much play time will be asked to fill the holes left by the departure of Steph and LBJ.

ANTHONY EDWARDS is a no-brainer. He’s a dominant scorer who can play both sides of the ball. Two-way players are more important in the FIBA game and Edwards is one of the best in the league.

I’d love to see KAWHI LEONARD back after not playing in 2024 so he could prepare for the upcoming NBA season, but I think it might be too much to ask of him. He’ll be 36 years old and he’s just too unreliable, which is a real shame because he’s the ideal FIBA player. He dominates both ends of the floor at the highest level. Bummer.

Depending on how his recovery goes, I’d love to see what TYRESE HALIBURTON can do in the international game. He’s a big point guard who distributes the ball at an elite level and can put up serious points when asked to.

Another player who didn’t do much playing in the Paris games was JAYSON TATUM. Like Haliburton, we’ll need to see what they look like post-injury, but I can’t imagine he’s not a focal point of the team moving forward. If Tatum looks anywhere close to how he did pre-injury, he could be carrying this team if they need it.

Let’s quickly go through the guys I don’t think will be back in 2028. DERRICK WHITE didn’t play a ton in 2026 and he’s not getting any younger. His play style is conducive to FIBA play, but there are better and younger guys out there. JOEL EMBIID got his gold medal in 2024 and I can’t imagine he’ll play any more ball than he has to from now on. He can’t stay healthy during the course of the regular NBA season, even with limited play, so there’s no chance he’s going to be on the roster in LA. It’s a real shame because we’re going to need multiple guys to throw at Wemby if gold is the goal. JRUE HOLIDAY is another guy whose two-way style is perfect for the international game, but he’ll be 38 when the tournament starts and there are other guys waiting to get their shot at gold. ANTHONY DAVIS probably won’t be back for basically the same reasons Embiid won’t. He’s constantly hurt and he’s already earned multiple gold medals.

BAM ADEBAYO should come back for his third go-around with Team USA and hopefully, will be in line for a larger role. He’s a proven winner and his wide-ranging skill set makes him a safe bet to return.

DEVIN BOOKER played great in the last olympics. He averaged 11.7 points per game and really protected the ball. His intensity and ability to score from anywhere on the court makes him a no-brainer and his veteran leadership will be critical to this young team.

The next roster spot goes to the future of the team: COOPER FLAGG. Not that I doubted his abilities coming out of college, but I had no idea he’d be this good this quickly. It’s honestly blowing my mind that he’s living up to the unbelievable hype that followed him all through the draft process. I still contend that it was karmic bullshit that the Mavericks got him in the first place, but the fans really needed him. Hopefully, he’ll be playing with Team USA for the next decade and a half.

I love fast guards who can score and distribute. My next two choices are based entirely on this premise. DE’AARON FOX has played with Team USA in FIBA tournaments the past but it’s time for him to step up to the big leagues. He’s been reinvigorated in San Antonio and I love what I’ve been seeing from him this year. I bought a lot of Fox stock early in his career, so this might be an attempt to prove I was right about him all along. He was known for his defense coming out of college, but he never really lived up to that reputation. Maybe he’ll feel comfortable exerting himself on defense if he knows he’s being backed by an all-world roster.

My next choice is TYRESE MAXEY. I love the idea of him in international play because he can play both sides of the ball, create his own shot, and his ability to drive and kick will keep defenses off balance as well as set up lots of open shots for his teammates. I watch a lot Maxey and I really trust his decision making and his shot from beyond the arc, especially in the clutch. As a matter of fact, Maxey just passed Allen Iverson for most 3-point field goals in Sixers history in just his sixth season in the league and in about 500 less attempts than AI.

Team USA needs to do everything it can to ensure CADE CUNNINGHAM laces up for them in 2028. They need to lock him down immediately. I think he has a shot to win the MVP this year (due to SGA and Jokic’s missed games). He’s an absolute monster on both sides of the ball (are you sensing a pattern here?). He’s a true point guard at 6’6 and 220 pounds. To give you a point of reference, Draymond Green is listed at 6’6, 230 pounds. He’s too fast and agile for someone his size. It’s not natural. Look at this:

I know I probably don’t have to sell you on Cade Cunningham but Lu Dort is one of the best defenders in the league and he’s calmly making him dance all over.

If you want to be the best, you’ve got to beat the best and right now, that means going through the French and Victor Wembanyama. We need a young player capable of making life tough for Wemby and that’s another Detroit Piston. JALEN DUREN is a tough defender, good rebounder, and he’s averaging just over 18 points per game this year. He’s the total package.

If roughing Wembanyama up isn’t the answer, then you’re going to need a big who can space the floor and use his size to make opponents uncomfortable. CHET HOLMGREN is just the man for the job. His distance shooting can keep bigs out of the lane to create more opportunities for his teammates, and if push comes to shove, he can hold his own in the paint despite his wiry frame. Chet has two years to put on some muscle to keep from getting bullied. His size and skillset are exactly what you’d dream up in a lab, so I’d be happy seeing “USA” stitched across his chest.

If you’re keeping count, that’s already 12 players named to my fictional roster but I’m going to go back on one of my previous picks. In two years, Kevin Durant will be 39 years old. He’ll be a threat on offense until he’s 90, but what if we need someone to shut down SGA or Franz Wagner? Unfortunately, that’s not elder millennial Kevin Durant’s forte. I’ve decided after some deliberation, and a strong desire to get this man on the team, that AMEN THOMPSON will be replacing KD on my projected roster. He’s working hard to develop his offensive game and he seems like the type to show a lot of improvement over the next two years, but his defensive instincts can’t be taught. He’s a freak athlete who knows how to defend effectively and will do what it takes to make his team better on the offensive end. Get on the bus, Amen. We’re going to LA.

My Projected Roster:

1. Kevin Durant Amen Thompson

2. Anthony Edwards

3. Tyrese Haliburton

4. Jayson Tatum

5. Bam Adebayo

6. Devin Booker

7. Cooper Flagg

8. Tyrese Maxey

9. Cade Cunningham

10. Jalen Duren

11. De’Aaron Fox

12. Chet Holmgren

Who did I leave off the list? Who’s on my team that you’d absolutely leave at home? Let me know!

As always, thanks for reading!