For Now, Both LeBron And Steph Curry Have Taken Their Names Out Of Consideration For The 2028 Olympics

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With the 2028 Olympics taking place in LA, it's not exactly a stretch to assume that when it comes to Team USA basketball, a lot of current stars are going to want to throw their name in the ring to be considered for the Men's Basketball roster. After winning Gold in each of the 2024, 2020, 2016, 2012, and 2008 Olympics, the 2028 Games will be Team USA's pursuit of a 6th straight gold medal which in my humble opinion, is pretty good! Sure, the rest of the world may be "catching up", but don't get it twisted. When Team USA sends its best, it still runs the world in the game of basketball.

So when you look ahead to the potential 2028 Men's roster that Erik Spoelstra and Grant Hill will have to fill out, there are a lot of intriguing names when it comes to the next wave of American talent. Unfortunately, when it comes to two of the best players from the 2024 Team USA Basketball Avengers, they'll have to make it work without two legends

Not exactly surprising that LeBron is hanging up his crown when it comes to Team USA, he'll be like 44 by the time the 2028 Olympics roll around. Assuming he's still playing in the NBA at that time, I think it's understandable that he wouldn't put even more mileage on those legs. I think he made his point in 2024.

With Steph, he'll be 40. And while he technically said "never say never", I think it's also unrealistic to think he'd be a part of the 2028 roster either. Sure, his conditioning is God-level, but like LeBron, I think 2024 was enough for him to check off that box as well. 

Kevin Durant? He'll be 39 and has already said that if he's still the same player in 2028 he'd play, and I'm not sure if you're watching Rockets games right now, but KD is showing NO SIGNS of regression. In fact, he's weirdly getting better? What a player. So I think we can put him in the "maybe, but probably" category.

So, who'd be left? I think Bam, should he want to play, is a lock. Same with Devin Booker and Anthony Edwards. Given the breakout we're seeing from Cade Cunningham right now, I could see him getting an invite. Tyrese Maxey too. In terms of wings, you have players like Paolo Banchero, Jalen Williams, Amen Thompson etc. If you're looking at young guys, maybe Cooper Flagg?

The million dollar question for me is what Jayson Tatum decides to do given what just happened in 2024 (plus his achilles), so you could tell me he's a lock, and you could also tell me he's going to skip it. I think we need to see how he looks first, honestly. The point is, there are still plenty of elite options once we get to 2028, so while not having LeBron/Steph would be a bummer considering how awesome they both were in the 2024 Games, it's not like Team USA shouldn't still be loaded.

If we're truly in the trust tree, the main reason I'm blogging this is just so we all can relive the Steph Curry/LeBron experience from 2024 one more time together. To this day, it's still as electric as ever

And they're right. There probably is no topping what we witnessed (no pun intended but intended) in the 2024 Games. Stpeh Curry's performance in the Gold Medal Game against France was one of the most insane performances the sport has ever seen. His Golden Dagger will go down as one of the best shots in the history of not just the Olympics, but the history of the sport. That may feel a bit hyperbolic, but it's also the truth.

Who knows, maybe Team USA underachieves in the next FIBA tournament ahead of the 2028 Olympics and that forces the Basketball Avengers to run it back in LA. But for now, it feels like Team USA will have to figure out how to win while not just being Steph/LeBron merchants.