Prospective athletes for Team USA's 2028 Olympic squad include Cooper Flagg and Paolo Banchero, two rising stars who could potentially make the cut.
The 2024 Paris Olympics saw Team USA's men's basketball team clinch the gold medal, and now, attention turns to the 2028 Games, which will be held in Los Angeles. A new generation of players is expected to take over the mantle, continuing the tradition of success for the U.S. team.
Key potential young pillars for Team USA’s 2028 Olympic basketball team include Anthony Edwards, Jayson Tatum, Tyrese Haliburton, Bam Adebayo, Cooper Flagg, and Paolo Banchero. These players are seen as the likely core to maintain USA Basketball’s dominance, starting with their possible Olympic debut in 2028.
Edwards, Tatum, Haliburton, and Adebayo are expected to return for Team USA in the 2028 Games, while Flagg and Banchero are candidates for the roster. Flagg, currently with the Dallas Mavericks, and Banchero, who plays for the Orlando Magic, have shown great promise and are expected to step up as veteran superstars like LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Steph Curry likely will not participate by then.
Among these rising stars, Chet Holmgren, Oklahoma City Thunder, and Amen Thompson, Houston Rockets, are particularly notable. Holmgren's competitive nature and focus on winning could make him a good fit for FIBA basketball, while Thompson is expected to be one of the best defensive players in the world by 2028. Thompson's ability to defend all five positions on the floor could be a valuable addition to Team USA's defense.
Meanwhile, the position for the next elite role player in Team USA's backcourt is currently To Be Determined. Jalen Suggs, VJ Edgecombe, Stephon Castle, Kon Knueppel, and Cason Wallace are potential candidates for this role. Suggs, Edgecombe, Castle, Knueppel, and Wallace need to improve their shooting abilities to be considered for the role, while Knueppel needs to exceed defensive expectations and Wallace may be in the mix a few years down the road.
Paolo Banchero, who has been in the USA Basketball system since 2018, is another potential fit for Team USA's roster in 2028. His skills make him a good fit for FIBA style competition. Grant Hill is speculating about potential replacements for the veteran superstars in Team USA's 2028 Olympic roster, and these young players are certainly contenders for the coveted spots.
Younger emerging talents such as Cooper Flagg and Paolo Banchero are also among the top candidates to join Team USA’s 2028 Olympic roster and potentially become long-term pillars of the program. Other young prospects ranked in high school classes for 2026–2028, such as Mateen Cleaves Jr., may eventually rise to NBA stardom and be considered for future USA Basketball roles, but the main immediate 2028 Olympic potential lies with the established young NBA talents mentioned above.
The development of these players through the NBA in coming years will be essential to sustain the country’s gold medal legacy at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
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