When Team USA Basketball won yet another gold medal at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, it was clear that the era of USA dominance over every other team was over. The United States earned their victory against the rest of the field, but the gap between them and other teams has significantly shrunk. Heading into 2028, one former Milwaukee Bucks leading man is confident that Team USA won’t be crowned Olympic champions at the next Summer Games in Los Angeles.
Brandon Jennings, a former Milwaukee Bucks All-Star, is confident that the era of dominance for Team USA will soon be over at the Olympic Games. Heading into the 2028 Games, which the United States will host in the city of Los Angeles, Jennings asserted that USA Basketball would not be the one to win the gold medal.
The USA Basketball TEAM in 2028 ain’t taking home the gold medal
That’s sad cause it’s in LA
— Brandon Jennings (@Tuff__Crowd) July 11, 2025
Team USA has won gold in each Olympic Games since the 2004 Games in Athens, Greece, where Argentina defeated Italy in the final. Team USA finished third place that year.
By 2028, some of Team USA’s best players from the 2024 Games will likely be retired. LeBron James will be 43 years old; Kevin Durant will be 40; Steph Curry will be 41. It is unlikely that they will still be the best players that Team USA can field at the Olympics. It’s possible that Steve Kerr is not even coaching Team USA by then.
Whether or not Jennings is correct remains to be seen, but it is almost certain that Team USA will look significantly different come 2028.
Jennings was not just willing to call out Team USA as a team that would not win gold – he had another winner specifically in mind. That team is France, who took silver at the 2024 Games.
I think France gone get everybody outta here
— Brandon Jennings (@Tuff__Crowd) July 11, 2025
France has plenty of young talent on their squad, and Victor Wembanyama figures to be entering his prime by that season. Still just 21 years old, he has so much room to grow despite already being one of the most terrifying talents in the NBA.
There will be plenty of other legitimate challengers for the medal places in 2028. Serbia, led by Nikola Jokic, took bronze at the 2024 Games and will be back to improve upon that finish in 2028. Canada, Germany, and even Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Greece will all be keen to move into medal positions as well.
Team USA vs Team World at All-Star 2026 will be another chance for the rest of the world to show that USA is far from invincible. As suggested by many, including Antetokounmpo himself, All-Star Weekend will now be a showcase of the best players from the USA and the best players from various other countries across the globe. The stakes at All-Star Weekend will be extremely high.
Team USA will still enter the tournament as favorites, and whether Jennings is right about them not being good enough to win gold or not, the 2028 Games will be a fascinating event. NBA All-Star 2026 could add some even more fuel to the fire as Team USA will face Team World.
More must-reads:
Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!