The USA Olympic team has once again secured a spot in the gold medal game, living up to expectations. However, questions arise about the future of US international basketball dominance. Despite a 13-point lead for Serbia in the early fourth quarter, the Americans managed to come out on top thanks to the impressive shooting of Stephen Curry, a sudden hot streak from Kevin Durant, the leadership of LeBron James, and Joel Embiid’s dominant play in the interior. The question now lingers: Will any of these players participate in the 2028 Olympics, and how will the USA team fare without them?
In the absence of the superstar trio, recent FIBA World Cup teams have lacked the top American talent, with the Tokyo Olympics team also missing some key players. With players like Jayson Tatum stepping up in the absence of the superstars, it raises the question of how the team will adapt in the future. However, even with the absence of star power, the Tokyo Olympics team managed to secure a gold medal, but they also suffered a loss to France, breaking the 25-game winning streak in group play. The main issue for the team was their lack of size, relying heavily on small ball lineups due to a shortage of traditional centers.
The current Olympic team features top NBA centers like Joel Embiid and Anthony Davis, who have helped eliminate the team’s size deficiency. However, both players have faced injury setbacks in their careers, making it uncertain if they will be at their peak in 2028. Looking ahead to the competition in 2028, it is hard to predict how the landscape of international basketball will evolve. While foreign players are becoming increasingly impactful in the NBA, it remains to be seen if another country will emerge with multiple star-level players in the coming years.
With the game of basketball gaining popularity globally, the future of USA international basketball dominance may be uncertain. As the current stars potentially phase out, new players will need to step up to maintain the team’s success on the international stage. Only time will tell how the USA team will fare in the years to come, and if they can continue their legacy of excellence in international competition.
