Team USA has been dominating the Olympics in the past four editions, but the gap between the Americans and the rest of the world is significantly closer. A big piece of evidence was their semifinal and gold medal games against Serbia and France in 2024, needing Stephen Curry’s heroics to eke out wins.
In less than two years, the pressure on the team will be enormous, as it hosts the Olympics in Los Angeles in front of its home fans.
Dubbed “The Avengers,” Team USA was bannered by aging superstars Curry, LeBron James and Kevin Durant, which was likely their last Olympic campaign. Young stars are expected to carry the torch from the three legends and continue the winning tradition. Anthony Edwards, Cooper Flagg and Cade Cunningham are projected to be the shoo-ins under head coach Erik Spoelstra.
Edwards previously represented the USA in the 2023 FIBA World Cup and averaged 18.9 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.8 assists in 25.9 minutes per game. Flagg, on the other hand, played during the 2024 training camp scrimmage as a 17-year-old and almost led the Select Team to a win over the Olympic squad.
Meanwhile, Cunningham is the face of the Detroit Pistons and is coming off an MVP-level 2025-26 season. He racked up 23.9 points, 5.5 rebounds and 9.9 assists to secure the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference.
Manning the team’s frontcourt will be Chet Holmgren, Jalen Duren and Evan Mobley. The Oklahoma City Thunder center will provide two-way play with his offensive and defensive skills, while Duren and Mobley will be the enforcers inside the paint.
The wings would likely include Paolo Banchero and Scottie Barnes, who are also great on both ends of the floor. They don’t need the ball in their hands all the time and can share the scoring load.
The holdovers who will complete the lineup are Bam Adebayo, Devin Booker, Tyrese Haliburton and Jayson Tatum. The quartet will add valuable experience to the young core. Haliburton and Tatum have a chip on their shoulders due to lack of playing time two years ago.
Team USA will face tough competition in the tournament, with France, Canada and Serbia as its top threats. Victor Wembanyama will lead an equally young French team that also has a boatload of NBA star power. Canada will have two-time NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jamal Murray, while Serbia will continue to contend with three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic.
Under Spoelstra, the team will likely employ a defensive-minded style that is switchable at every position. This will allow the Americans to suffocate opponents and force a lot of turnovers that they can convert to fast-break points.
With the right blend of young guns and veterans, Team USA remains the favorite to win the gold medal. Still, an extended preparation is needed to ensure stronger chemistry.
