From the Dream Team of 1992, to the Redeem Team in 2008, it's safe to say the United States used to have a chokehold on international basketball, having teams of the biggest sensations and the best coaches. However, basketball has changed, especially with how diverse the talent is. This coming summer, the United States is expected to put their best foot forward in the Olympic basketball event, but who will be out there?
The Projected 7
Right now, the list of possible players sits at a staggering 41, however, 7 are already shoe-ins to be selected. Devin Booker, Steph Curry, Kevin Durant, Jayson Tatum, Joel Embiid, Lebron James, and Jrue Holiday are the current top choices, and they definitely will not disappoint. Both Devin Booker and Steph Curry are the most developed guards in the NBA, and some of the best shooters to ever grace a basketball court. When it comes to big men, the USA does not lack in any category. With the length of Kevin Durant, the savvy of Jayson Tatum, and the scoring ability of Joel Embiid, they are the most diverse and prepared Olympic team since 2008. Don't forget about Lebron and Jrue Holiday, both being full court players who are above average in every category. At this point, regardless of who else is picked, this team is most definitely hungry and ready to win a gold.
The Competition
Despite that, get ready to watch the best international basketball of all time. Amongst the current MVP candidates, four of them are international basketball players: Nikola Jokic, Luka Doncic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Giannis Antetokounmpo. Following that, don't forget Germany beat Serbia in the mens FIBA world cup in 2022, over teams like the United States and Serbia. The fact stands that basketball is no longer America's sport, and there is a chance this will be the first USA superteam to fall to international talent. However, it will most definetly be an entertaining journey.
Tyler Rath
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