Team USA may have triumphed at the 2024 Paris Olympics, but former NBA champion Richard Jefferson has cast serious doubt on the future of American basketball dominance.
In a surprising statement made during an episode of the Road Trippin’ podcast, Jefferson predicted that the United States won’t win gold at the 2028 Olympics, even with home-court advantage in Los Angeles.
“I’m not trying to piss people off,” Jefferson said, before confidently declaring, “The U.S. will not win gold in Los Angeles, California. Boom.”
While Team USA claimed gold in 2024, the path wasn’t smooth. The squad, featuring NBA legends like LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, and Joel Embiid, had to overcome a 17-point deficit against Serbia in the semifinals and scrape past France in the final.
Jefferson emphasized that it took a “herculean effort” and arguably the greatest players of this generation to secure that win-an effort he doubts will be replicated in 2028.
Can Team USA stay ahead of the competition?
Jefferson’s concerns are largely tied to aging stars. By 2028, Curry and Durant will be in their late 30s, and LeBron James will be well into his 40s-making their participation unlikely. Embiid, the team’s dominant big man, may also be past his peak. Without these elite veterans, the U.S. could face serious challenges on the global stage.
Even when co-host Channing Frye pointed out a potential 2028 lineup that includes young talents like Jayson Tatum, Anthony Edwards, Cade Cunningham, Evan Mobley, and Paolo Banchero, Jefferson remained skeptical.
He argued that individual talent isn’t enough-what matters is whether the U.S. can build a cohesive, balanced team.
Jefferson believes France could be the biggest threat in 2028. With Victor Wembanyama continuing to develop and emerging stars like Zacharie Risacher and Alexandre Sarr, France is building a deep, athletic roster that might rival the Americans in chemistry and size.
He specifically highlighted Team USA’s reliance on foreign-born big men, like Embiid in 2024, and noted that most of today’s dominant centers-Wembanyama, Nikola Jokic, and Giannis Antetokounmpo-are European.
Historically, the U.S. thrived with powerhouse big men like David Robinson, Karl Malone, and Dwight Howard. Without an American-born big to anchor the team in 2028, Jefferson warns that Team USA could lose its edge.
His take isn’t about doubting American talent but acknowledging how global basketball has evolved. For Team USA to succeed in 2028, it will take more than names on a roster-it’ll require strategy, depth, and chemistry.
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