Predicting Group USA’s 2028 Olympic basketball roster: Anthony Edwards amongst key returners, Jalen Brunson joins

The halcyon days of American males’s basketball gamers bulldozing their strategy to worldwide gold medals are lengthy gone, and final yr’s heated Olympic battles with Serbia and France reminded us simply how essential roster-building has develop into for Group USA. Compiling a hodgepodge of the 12 greatest gamers you’ll find is not an choice — the mixtures need to make sense from a basketball perspective, which may result in some excruciating selections. It has been one yr since Group USA gained gold, and three years from now the People will try to defend their gold medal in Los Angeles.

USA Basketball managing director Grant Hill has the ultimate phrase for the 2028 roster, however he will definitely obtain enter from his teaching employees, which is able to most definitely not be led by Steve Kerr, who stated after Paris that he would not function Group USA’s head coach. Whether or not he is changed by one in every of his assistants (Miami Warmth’s Erik Spoelstra, Los Angeles Clippers’ Tyronn Lue, Gonzaga’s Mark Few) or somebody new, they’ll have their fingers full making an attempt to select the right mixture of stars who possess each the ability set and mentality to thrive on the worldwide stage.

The 2028 video games ought to be a barely simpler to promote to gamers provided that they happen in L.A. — eliminating the lengthy flights and jetlag sometimes attribute of an Olympic sojourn. However there’s additionally a problem since mainstays like LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry could not even be taking part in NBA basketball at that time, not to mention able to main Group USA to gold. James and Curry have all however dominated out a return in 2028, whereas Durant has left the door barely ajar. For our functions, nonetheless, let’s assume that each one three legends have performed of their final Olympics.

If that is the case, we’ll see a shift towards the subsequent technology in 2028, with Curry’s sensible 2024 efficiency serving because the cherry on prime of a memorable period of American basketball that has gained the final 5 Olympic gold medals. 

With these legends out of the equation, let’s check out the potential 12-man roster that might carry the torch in 2028 and break down every choice.

Projected 2028 Group USA Olympic basketball roster

Bam Adebayo	C	31
Paolo Banchero	F	25
Devin Booker	G	31
Jalen Brunson	G	31
Cade Cunningham	G	26
Anthony Davis	F	35
Anthony Edwards	G	27
Joel Embiid	C	34
Tyrese Haliburton	G	28
Donovan Mitchell	G	31
Jayson Tatum	F	30
Jalen Williams	F	27

The holdovers

Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves

• Age in 2028: 27
• Olympic appearances: 2024

Shopping for inventory in Edwards as the long run face of American basketball is a fairly good guess, because the 24-year-old already holds two All-NBA picks and has led the Wolves to consecutive convention finals appearances. He burst onto the scene in his Olympic debut final yr, averaging 13 factors in 16 minutes per sport, taking pictures 58% from the sphere and 48% from the 3-point line. Nothing is ready in stone, however it will be downright stunning to see Edwards’ title absent from the 2028 roster.

Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics

• Age in 2028: 30
• Olympic appearances : 2020, 2024

Assuming his restoration from Achilles surgical procedure goes properly, Tatum is a no brainer to make a 3rd straight Olympic look. He’ll be 30 in 2028, making him one of many leaders when it comes to expertise and accomplishments. Tatum notably did not obtain a lot taking part in time from Kerr in Paris, choosing up DNPs in two video games, however that possible is not going to be the case in Los Angeles.

Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns

• Age in 2028: 31
• Olympic appearances: 2020, 2024

Booker can also be a digital lock to make his third straight Olympic workforce, because the prolific scorer already has a confirmed monitor file on the worldwide stage. He averaged 12 factors, three rebounds and three assists in Paris on spectacular 57/57/78 taking pictures splits, asserting himself as one of many workforce’s most essential gamers. It is arduous to think about Booker doing something to jeopardize his spot on the 2028 workforce.

Anthony Davis, Dallas Mavericks

• Age in 2028: 35
• Olympic appearances: 2012, 2024

Davis has been a key member of Group USA for the previous decade-plus, incomes gold medals in all three competitions by which he is participated (Olympics in 2012 and 2024, World Cup in 2014). He is additionally precisely the kind of participant that the roster will want, as there aren’t many massive males able to performing the best way Davis does on each ends of the ground. He averaged eight factors, seven rebounds, two assists and 1.5 blocks per sport throughout the Paris run, whereas taking pictures 63% from the sphere. He’ll be a little bit longer within the tooth come 2028, but when he is wholesome he’ll nearly assuredly make one other Olympic look.

Bam Adebayo, Miami Warmth

• Age in 2028: 31
• Olympic appearances: 2020, 2024

Very like Davis, Adebayo represents the prototypical trendy massive man. He can guard one by way of 5 whereas defending the rim on one finish and ending on the opposite. Adebayo additionally brings a playmaking aspect that you do not get from many NBA facilities, making him an incredible match with nearly any lineup mixture. If he can broaden his offensive sport with added accountability over the subsequent few years, he might play an excellent bigger function in Los Angeles than he has in his earlier two Olympic appearances.

Tyrese Haliburton, Indiana Pacers

• Age in 2028: 28
• Olympic appearances: 2024

Haliburton was famously self-deprecating when it got here to his statistical contributions to the Paris gold, however anybody who’s been round him for 5 seconds is aware of what he brings when it comes to management, power and basketball IQ. 

He performed in simply three of the six video games final summer season, averaging three factors in 9 minutes. Do not anticipate that to proceed in 2028, assuming Haliburton recovers from the devastating Achilles damage he suffered in Recreation 7 of June’s NBA Finals. There is a good probability he might even begin in Los Angeles, since his selfless play will solely elevate the unbelievable expertise surrounding him.

Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers

• Age in 2028: 34
• Olympic appearances: 2024

We’ll select to be optimistic right here and say that Embiid will likely be wholesome sufficient to contribute to Group USA in 2028. He was dominant in restricted minutes in Paris, taking part in a serious half within the People’ fourth-quarter comeback to beat Serbia within the semifinal.

There’s no person on the planet who can guard a wholesome Embiid, and regardless that the wear and tear and tear may restrict him, his upside alone ought to be sufficient to earn him one other spot on the roster.

The brand new blood

Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks

• Age in 2028: 31
• Olympic appearances: None

Brunson was “excessive on the record” of candidates for the 2024 Olympic workforce, in response to Kerr, however was finally left off the roster. That is not going to occur in 2028, when he ought to simply slide into the emptiness left by Curry on the guard place. Brunson has developed into one of the crucial prolific scoring guards on the planet and, whereas he lacks measurement, his grittiness and intelligence ought to permit him to carry his personal defensively on the worldwide stage. He has but to make an Olympic look, however Brunson gained gold as a member of the U18 and U19 Group USA squads and was a key member of the 2023 World Cup workforce.

Paolo Banchero, Orlando Magic

• Age in 2028: 25
• Olympic appearances: None

Banchero ruffled some feathers together with his choice to not play for Group Italy in 2023, after which suited up for the People on the World Cup. The 6-foot-10 ahead took a serious leap in his third NBA season, averaging 26 factors, 7.5 rebounds and 5 assists because the Magic’s offensive focus, and he is solely bettering. With such a novel ability set for his measurement, he appears tailored for a spot on the 2028 Olympic roster — particularly if his 3-point consistency improves.

Jalen Williams, Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder

• Age in 2028: 27
• Olympic appearances: None

An All-NBA and All-Defensive performer in simply his third NBA season, Williams has the best mixture of versatility and ability for the Group USA roster. He is confirmed he can play alongside an absolute celebrity in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, understanding when to defer and when to say himself. He’ll solely enhance over the subsequent few seasons, and may have an incredible probability to make his first Olympic look in Los Angeles.

Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers

• Age in 2028: 31
• Olympic appearances: None

It is arduous to consider that Mitchell has by no means made an Olympic roster, having beforehand stated that it “means the world to play for Group USA.” Sadly his solely reminiscence with them is taking a disappointing seventh place on the 2019 World Cup. He may very well be in line for redemption in 2028, as Group USA might want to fill the scoring void left by James, Curry and probably Durant. The primary-team All-NBA guard averaged 24 factors and 5 assists for the Cavs final season, whereas displaying a willingness to sacrifice particular person statistics for successful — precisely the mentality he’ll want in his first Olympic look.

Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons

• Age in 2028: 26
• Olympic appearances: None

A 6-foot-6 level guard with measurement and power, Cunningham is simply tapping the floor of his potential. It is scary to think about how good he may very well be in three years, when he’ll be arduous to go up for an Olympic roster spot. His capacity to play on or off the ball will likely be key, as will his capacity to arrange teammates along with in search of his personal offense. Cunningham gained gold with Group USA on the U19 FIBA World Cup, and 2028 looks like the suitable time for him to step onto the Olympic stage.

On the radar: Evan Mobley, Jaylen Brown, Cooper Flagg, Amen Thompson, Karl-Anthony Cities, Mikal Bridges, Jaren Jackson Jr., Ja Morant, Zion Williamson, Trae Younger, Tyrese Maxey, LaMelo Ball, Tyler Herro, De’Aaron Fox, Brandon Miller, Trey Murphy III

Cuts from 2024: LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Jrue Vacation, Derrick White