Predicting the United States men’s 2028 Olympic basketball roster

The United States men’s basketball team managed to outlast Serbia in the semifinals and France in the gold medal game. The triumph puts the team back on top, but the pressure to do it all over again will mount as we approach the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. We’ll take a stab at putting together the group of 12 that will try to win the gold on their home court.

Haliburton had one of the better social media reactions to the United States’ gold medal win in Paris. He posted a picture of himself with the gold medal and captioned “when you ain’t do nun on the group project and still get an A.” Haliburton was sparingly used throughout the 2024 Olympics, but figures to be a key piece four years from now.

As an All-Star point guard with the Indiana Pacers, Haliburton is one of the best guards in the NBA at controlling the rhythm of the action and getting other players involved, as CBS Sports wrote in May. He’ll be an important player that will help everyone get their touches.

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Edwards’ inclusion on the 2028 Olympic roster is another no-brainer, as he’s already turned into one of the most feared players in the NBA. In fact, Bleacher Report made the case before the 2024 Olympics that Edwards should have been the number one scoring option on Team USA. His potential as the face of the Olympics is legitimate.

With that said, Edwards also enjoyed his Olympic experience in 2024, playing with legends like LeBron James, Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant. The Minnesota Timberwolves star posted a picture of himself with the terrific trio on social media and wrote, “keep some old heads around you.” He’ll be a “head” in entering his prime in 2028.

Booker has now won two Olympic gold medals, and is still just 27 years of age. He’ll have a chance to match Kevin Durant’s record of four Olympic gold medals if he wants it, and seems like he loves representing his country. He told Arizona Sports, “there’s no other thing like it (representing the United States).”

During the final Olympic press conference, United States head coach Steve Kerr made a point to call out Booker’s exemplary play during the tournament. “Devin Booker is an incredible basketball player. Nobody asked about him. He was our unsung MVP. I just wanted to say that.” Sports Illustrated captured the high praise for Booker.

The story that persisted alongside the United States gold medal run was Tatum’s lack of playing time throughout the Olympics. Tatum told Sports Illustrated that being a complimentary piece of the puzzle was “challenging and humbling.” The Boston Celtics star just came off winning an NBA title the month before the Olympics.

There was a lot of debate surrounding Tatum’s role on the 2024 Olympic team, but it seems pretty fair to say that he would be a critical piece of any team put together in 2028. Kevin Durant and LeBron James figure to be out of the Olympic picture by that point, freeing up a boatload of minutes at the forward position.

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Davis is going to be an interesting call leading up to the 2028 Olympics. He’ll be 35 years old at that point, with perhaps a notable decline in his athleticism. He also hasn’t been known as the picture of health. But a strong run in 2024 fuels positive speculation that Davis might want one last shot at another gold medal.

We’ll see what happens between now and then, but Davis could be the elder statesman of the team, and unofficial host, if he’s still with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2028. Laker Nation’s website noted that Davis blocked four shots in the 2024 gold medal game against France.

White’s contributions as a stellar perimeter defender have gotten a lot of attention in recent months. He’s taken the challenge of guarding Luka Doncic in the NBA Finals, and other accomplished backcourt players in the Olympics. White was named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team in May, as Yahoo Sports called out.

It seems entirely possible that White will have won another NBA championship by the time 2028 rolls around, which would further cement his legacy. He’s the type of player that coaches love, as he’s able to fill in the blanks at a high level in whatever area the team needs. White will be 34 years old by the time the 2028 Games roll around.

We’ve finally reached the point on the roster where we’ll find some new faces to introduce to the team. Maxey improved by leaps and bounds with the Philadelphia 76ers, and is one of the most explosive guards in the NBA. He has an excellent chance to have his name called when 2028 rolls around.

Former teammate P.J. Tucker once told The Ringer about Maxey, “I’ve never seen somebody as happy as him. Every single day.” This seems to be the consensus observation from anyone who spends time around Maxey. His positive vibes should make him a popular player to play with, which is important in a high stakes tournament like the Olympics.

Brown seemed disappointed and confused when he wasn’t called upon to replace Kawhi Leonard on the Olympic team in July. Derrick White got the nod instead, and Brown took to social media to post three inquisitive looking emojis. CBS Sports reports that Team USA is already looking at Brown for 2028, so the Celtics star should get his chance the next time around.

Boston Celtics President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens told NBC Sports Boston that he believes that Brown’s omission from the 2024 team “will probably add more fuel to his fire” in the next few seasons. Brown could be the most motivated player heading into the 2028 Games, which is a commitment the program should find attractive.

Banchero’s ceiling is sky-high after his first two NBA seasons. As displayed on Basketball Reference, the Orlando Magic All-Star is averaging over 21 points per game, to go along with nearly seven rebounds and just under five assists. In four more years, Banchero might be on the short list of best players in the entire league.

It’s hard to know exactly what type of player Banchero will be by 2028, so his role alongside other ball dominant players is unknown at this point in time. If he does reach his gaudy potential, it will be intriguing to see whether he’s able to play the way Team USA needs on a star-studded roster.

Another 2024 Olympic star who could certainly run it back in 2028 is Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo. He’s gotten the hang of the Olympic format, as the Miami Herald noted that he was also a part of the 2020 Olympic team that won gold. His game fits in nicely in this arena, as Adebayo doesn’t need the ball to be effective.

Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra was a member of Kerr’s coaching staff during the 2024 Olympics, and shared why he believes Adebayo is perfect for the Olympics. Spoelstra told USA Basketball’s website, “He always will be about winning. That’s why he’s so respected in NBA circles, but also USA basketball.”

When healthy, Holmgren has proven that he’s a force on both ends of the floor with the Oklahoma City Thunder. He’s a prototypical player in the modern game, who can protect the rim while extending the defense out to the three point line on offense. His versatile skill set should be highly attractive for Team USA.

Along with the rest of the world, the United States is going to have to deal with the force that France’s Victor Wembanyama is already and will be for the next decade plus. Holmgren may not be quite as versatile as Wembanyama, but he’s not far off either. Standing at 7’1”, with mobility, Holmgren will have the ability to contest Wembanyama’s shots as well as anyone.

There are a lot of different directions that the United States could go to round out their team. Jalen Brunson, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Ja Morant might be popular names ahead of the 2028 Games, and rightfully so. However, Team USA has shown that they are also cognizant of building a roster that fits well with one another, which is why Barnes might get the call above them.

So far in his NBA career, Barnes has shown to have a well-rounded game that impacts most facets of the sport. While he’s not an accomplished shooter just yet, Barnes may be willing to do the dirty work that a lot of other brand-name players may not be thrilled about. He’s a name to keep in mind as the decade progresses.

At this rate, it’s hard to ever count LeBron James out of future plans, but it seems like a good bet that he won’t be part of the 2028 Olympic team. Joel Embiid has dealt with a plethora of injuries in his career, and may not be the strongest pick from a health standpoint. Potential 2025 number one overall draft pick Cooper Flagg could find his way on the team.

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