Since 2000, the United States of America has won Olympic gold 5 out of 6 times, with the lone exception coming in 2004 when Team USA lost to, eventually gold medalist, Argentina in the semifinals. Suffice to say they are once again the prohibitive favorites going into the Paris Olympics. Even after an uneven showing during their 5-game exhibition tour, where they were seriously pushed in a couple of the exhibition games. During the 5-game warm-up stretch a few players really stood out, while a couple of others didn’t perform up to their standards and may not factor much in the rotation heading into group play. Let’s run through the roster and rank everyone 1-12:

1. LeBron James – It’s pretty remarkable the most important player is nearly 40 years old. And, in spurts, can still dominate a game on both ends of the court. He’s the undisputed leader and the de facto Point Guard, handling the play-making duties, but with a license to shoot and attack the rim. On defense, he’ll be able to roam and hunt the passing lanes for steals leading to transition dunks. No need to use him as a primary on-ball defender unless absolutely necessary.
2. Anthony Davis – The most important big-man by far, due to his ability to defend positions 1-5, protecting the rim, and 3-level scoring. His two-way versatility is game-changing and, possibly, only matched by France’s Victory Wembanyama.
3. Stephen Curry – Surprisingly, this is Curry’s first ever Olympics at 36 years old. That’s not for a lack of talent. He’s just had injuries at inopportune times. He’s by far America’s best 3-point shooter, which they desperately need to space the floor. Although, he didn’t look very comfortable shooting throughout the showcase. Getting him right must be Steve Kerr’s most pressing need.
4. Kevin Durant – This one is strange, as KD did not play during the showcase but was kept on the roster, unlike Kawhi Leonard. Maybe it’s because Durant was the standout player on the 2020 team that won gold in Tokyo and is one of the most fearsome scorers in NBA history. It’ll be tough for him to get into game shape quickly, so if he does play expect short, quick bursts
5. Jrue Holiday – Not everyone on a super team needs to excel at scoring. A couple of the guys need to prioritize defense and not care about how many shots they take. Holiday is the perfect example of this, as he’s willing to take on the opponent’s most prolific scorer, defer to the bigger stars on offense, disrupt the passing lanes and generate extra possessions through hustle and heart.
6. Anthony Edwards – Being the youngest player (22 years old) on Team USA can’t be easy. All the other players have as many or more accolades and accomplishments than Edwards. Sometimes that can mess with a young guys head, as he might not know his standing within the team and lose confidence. With Ant, he seems immune to the moment. Nothing phases the kid. Even if he misses his first 5 shots, he’s willing to take the 6th. His youthfulness and headstrong nature will serve Team USA well, in addition to his explosive athleticism and scoring ability. If he soaks up all the knowledge and experience from these Olympics, he will be primed for gigantic 2024/25.
7. Devin Booker – Probably the 2nd best marksman on the team besides Curry, which is an invaluable skill to possess on a team full of guys who can drive and kick to the open shooter. Unfortunately, his shot was patchy during the showcase but played solid defense. He might be the guy who has to change his own game the most and sacrifice a lot of shots.
8. Derrick White – In a very similar situation to his teammate Jrue Holiday, as a guy who’s playing time will be based on his defensive efficiency and how he fits next to, presumably, 4 other All-Star or All-NBA caliber players.
9. Jayson Tatum – This one was the toughest decision. It’s not that Tatum isn’t a very good player, he just led the Boston Celtics to their first title since 2008, it’s more that JT plays the position with the most talent within the team. LeBron James and Kevin Durant are ahead of him in the forward hierarchy. Now, if Durant is truly unable to come back from injury, then Tatum will immediately be called upon and shoot up the rankings.
10. Bam Adebayo – Just think of AD’s skill-set and abilities and downgrade everything by a notch or two, especially on offense. He’ll still have a role as one of the big-men, but it just might not be as big or impactful as he hoped.
11. Joel Embiid – No one hurt their stock more than Embiid. His size and strength are helpful in certain matchups, but overall Team USA want to play fast and in transition, things Embiid isn’t known for. Steve Kerr will have some interesting conversations with his assistants about how to best deploy the big-man.
12. Tyrese Haliburton – No shade towards Hali, as he’s an immense player, but holy smokes has he been bad. His scoring output has been rough. Here are his totals over the 5-game showcase: vs. Canada (0-points), vs. Australia (6-points), vs. Serbia (0-points), vs. South Sudan (0-points) and vs. Germany (DNP). Also, his minutes per game are trending downwards. It seems like he’s been surpassed in the pecking order by all the other guards. Hopefully he can look at this as a learning experience to understand what it takes to contribute on such a stacked team.

If the United States don’t bring home the gold medal, something will have gone very wrong. This version of Team USA isn’t perfect but has more than enough talent to top the podium. The group stage shouldn’t trouble the Americans: vs. Serbia (7/28, 8:15am, NBC), vs. South Sudan (7/31, 12:00pm, USA) and vs. Puerto Rico (8/3, 8:15am, NBC). It’s the knockout stage that should give the USA pause, as a few of the other countries have legit NBA stars/rosters. Canada has the best overall roster outside of the US, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leading the way. The host nation of France has the single most intriguing player in phenom Victor Wembanyama and, all of a sudden, are a prospect hotbed. Nikola Jokić is the most skilled big-man in the world, which makes Serbia a tough opponent. The Greek Freak Giannis Antetokounmpo will also make Greece a tough out. On their day, any one of these teams could catch fire and sent the USA packing. It’s up to Steve Kerr and his assistants to put the right guys in, get them playing well and send LeBron James, Steph Curry and Kevin Durant home with a gold, as Paris will likely be all of their last Olympics. About half of the current team is over the age of 30, so the 2028 roster will look much different. Make sure to enjoy this team!