The team
Bam AdebayoForward/center
Age: 30
A two-time Olympian, Adebayo has carved out a niche with Team USA as a versatile defender capable of playing either power forward or center. The FIBA 3-point line is also more comfortable for Adebayo, allowing him to play alongside a more traditional big like Davis or even perhaps Embiid. Adebayo will be 30 to start the next Olympics before turning 31 during group play.
Paolo Banchero
Forward
Age: 25
After initially committing to the Italy national team, Banchero made his senior national team debut last year before age 21, serving as Team USA's backup center in the FIBA Basketball World Cup and averaging 12.3 points per game. By 2028, Banchero could be one of the NBA's most powerful offensive forces with his combination of size and skill. Ticket him for a role at power forward, where the U.S. typically is lacking in size.
Devin Booker
Guard
Age: 31
A two-time Olympian, Booker should still be in his late prime when 2028 rolls around. Booker's ability to space the floor and step into a larger defensive role than he plays in the NBA with the Phoenix Suns has made him a strong complement to Team USA's stars and should give him an excellent chance at a third appearance.
Jalen Brunson
Guard
Age: 31
Given how little Tyrese Haliburton played at point guard during the Olympics, it's fair to wonder whether the U.S. would have been better off bringing Brunson instead. Arguably the best American player not in Paris, Brunson will be over 30 in 2028, but his skill-based game should age well. Assuming Curry doesn't return, Brunson has a real shot at starting for the USA next time.
Anthony Davis
Center
Age: 35
When Davis was the 12th man on the 2012 USA roster before making his NBA debut, the possibility of playing in four or five Olympics seemed realistic. Instead, Davis went two Olympic cycles before returning to the roster in Paris. Still, he's got a chance at a third appearance in front of what might be home fans in Los Angeles. Davis is the only current member of the Lakers or Clippers on my projected roster.
Anthony Edwards
Guard
Age: 26
Without Curry, Durant and James, my 2028 roster has only one NBA MVP (Embiid) as of now. Consider Edwards the best chance of changing that over the next four seasons. Having turned 23 during the Paris Games, Edwards still has plenty of development ahead of him. And he's already been one of the USA's top scorers off the bench in these games. By 2028, when he's in his prime, Edwards is likely to be the face of the team.
Joel Embiid
Center
Age: 34
Having chosen the USA over the possibility of representing either his native Cameroon or rival France, Embiid presumably has a good chance of making the roster as long as he's healthy and performing at a high level. Having gotten his first taste of international basketball at the highest level this summer, Embiid may be better prepared for what to expect in 2028.
Tyrese Haliburton
Guard
Age: 28
To some degree, I think Haliburton going from playing a key role off the bench in the USA's early exhibitions (he had six assists and four steals in the opening game against Canada) to multiple DNP-CDs during the Olympics was an overcorrection. Haliburton's shooting and playmaking are ideally suited to running the point internationally. At the same time, here's hoping that falling out of the U.S. rotation helps Haliburton take strides defensively, which would put him in consideration to start in 2028.
Chet Holmgren
Center
Age: 26
Holmgren is the first of three players on my 2028 roster who have yet to be part of the U.S. senior national team. Holmgren does have plenty of USA Basketball experience at the youth level, including squaring off against Victor Wembanyama in the 2021 U19 final. The USA will surely need to plan for defending Wembanyama in 2028, and who better than the similar Holmgren? Expect the two centers, who finished 1-2 in Rookie of the Year voting, to be the NBA's top two defenders by 2028.
Tyrese Maxey
Guard
Age: 27
Maxey was inexplicably left off the USA Basketball pool, which included every other All-Star eligible to represent the USA save Julius Randle of the New York Knicks. Let's hope the committee watches a few Philadelphia 76ers games between now and 2028. By then, Maxey will be in his prime and has a chance to be one of the league's best guards. He could be a leader of the USA team for the 2027 Basketball World Cup.
Jayson Tatum
Forward
Age: 30
Whether you agree with Tatum ending up out of the USA rotation for much of the Olympics or not, it's clear the path to playing time will be clearer in 2028 when he's less likely to be behind a pair of MVPs in James and Durant. Heading into what would be his third Olympics, Tatum would be a veteran leader and a key piece at either forward spot.
Jalen Williams
Forward/guard
Age: 27
Consider this the toughest spot to pick on the USA roster. There will surely be no shortage of star wings who develop, but I'd give Williams the best chance to fit into a reserve role on the Olympic team by virtue of his 3-point capability (43% last season, albeit on just 3.4 attempts per game) and defensive versatility. Williams, who emerged as the No. 2 scorer on the West's top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder alongside Holmgren and Canada's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, will be in his prime in 2028.
