The U.S. team has won the Olympic gold medal for the fifth consecutive time, just as predicted, with a lineup that LeBron James calls “The Avengers.” It’s too difficult for the rest of the world to consider overthrowing the basketball dominance of the United States. However, after this achievement, many stories have emerged among American basketball fans about whether the U.S. team will continue to maintain its dominant position in four years.

Many believe it’s unthinkable for the U.S. team to fail in their specialty. But it’s important to remember that the U.S. team has faced painful defeats before, most recently at Athens in 2004. The 2028 Olympics are predicted to be very challenging for the U.S. team. It’s worth noting that the gold medal in Paris had a significant contribution from veterans. LeBron James, who is approaching 40, was still the leader, guiding the team throughout the six years in France. The king also claimed the MVP title in a very deserving manner. Kevin Durant, who is also 36, remained the most reliable scorer under Coach Steve C., and Stephen Curry heroically saved the U.S. team in both the semifinals and finals.

That said, it doesn’t mean that the younger stars of the U.S. team, like Devin Booker and Anthony Davis, did not play important roles. They performed well on the court, but in crucial moments, the presence of true champions like LeBron, KD, and Curry was crucial. In the upcoming Olympics held in the U.S. in four years, these three players are unlikely to participate. LeBron will be 43, KD and Steph will both be 40. It will be too difficult for the U.S. team to rely on these aging stars.

Durant has hinted that he might participate in the 2028 Olympics and could become a Diana Taurasi or a similar legend with a fifth consecutive Olympic gold medal. But regardless of the outcome, it’s hard to expect him to maintain his leadership role and clutch shots. The responsibility of protecting the gold medal will fall to younger players. The players who impressed at Paris 2024 will need to step up as the main leaders for Los Angeles.

One of the most talked-about candidates is Jayson Tatum, the 2024 NBA champion and considered one of the successors to the great Kobe Bryant. Tatum is expected to lead the U.S. team after LeBron, KD, and Curry step back. However, after the events in Paris, fans have reason to doubt this.

On Sunday, Tatum stepped onto the podium as the champion, with a gold medal around his neck and numerous cheers from fans. However, he also faced personal disappointments, with his mother defending him on social media. Despite this, Tatum has been focused on the team’s success rather than his personal achievements. He acknowledged the difficulty of sitting out several games, including the semifinals, but stressed the importance of the team’s victory.

Tatum’s situation, being a star player sitting on the bench, has generated a lot of discussion on social media. He added fuel to the fire by sharing a tweet that sparked speculation about his dissatisfaction with his limited playtime in Paris and whether he might skip the 2028 Olympics.

Tatum has acknowledged the challenges and sacrifices of participating in the Olympics but emphasized that he’s focused on the experience and learning from it. If Tatum decides not to participate in the 2028 Olympics, it would be a significant loss for the U.S. team. Nevertheless, Tatum remains a major star, and his absence could be felt.

At the 2020 Olympics, Tatum made a strong impact, becoming the second-best scorer for the U.S. team and contributing significantly to both offense and defense. With LeBron, KD, and Curry likely not participating in the next Olympics, players like Holiday, who will be 38 in 2028, may also be retired by then. The U.S. team will need to rely on younger talents to step up.

The current stars of the U.S. team include Anthony Davis, who will be 35 in 2028, and Bam Adebayo, who will be 31. Adebayo’s coach, Eric Spoelstra, might be the next U.S. coach, replacing Steve C. Booker, who has impressed and might also be a key player. Anthony Edwards, the youngest player on the U.S. team this summer, has shown promise and could be a future star.

In conclusion, the experience and skill of NBA champions like Tatum will be crucial for the U.S. team, but if Tatum decides not to compete, the team’s strength will still be formidable with the remaining players. The U.S. team will need to rely on emerging young stars to show their champion mentality and fill the roles left by the veterans.

Whether Tatum will choose to participate in the 2028 Olympics remains to be seen. We can only wait to find out.