Team USA won’t compete in the Summer Olympics again for another four years. However, roster speculation and rumored construction are already a talking point, considering all that happened in Paris. One NBA insider points to two current superstars who must represent the USA in 2028—Ja Morant and Zion Williamson.
Team USA Needs Ja Morant & Zion Williamson Per NBA Insider
USA Basketball Source Pioneers for a Pelican & Grizzly in 2028
Team USA is almost two months removed from winning gold in the Paris Summer Olympic Games, and the next event is another four years away. That hasn’t stopped speculation on which current NBA stars will join the Team USA ranks come 2028 though.
According to The Athletic’s NBA senior writer Joe Vardon, an NBA basketball source hints that two players who must be selected to represent America are Ja Morant and Zion Williamson.
“We will still have a great chance to win gold, but it won’t be easy,” the source said. “Ja [Morant] and Zion [Williamson] need to be in the mix. Moving forward, hopefully they can get on track and stay on track.”
By “get on track and stay on track,” Vardon’s source evidently references the health and availability of each player. Morant and Williamson are elite players and are considered NBA superstars already. Still, injuries and off-the-court circumstances have thus far hampered their careers. Zion’s issues have mostly come from the injury side of things. His dedication to his body, or lack thereof, has also played a role. For Morant, it has been off-court problems with nothing to do with basketball. However, he also has struggled through health problems, most notably last season, when he missed most of the NBA campaign following his return from suspension.
Making An Already Packed Team USA
The elements in favor of Ja and Zion are their play and talent on the court. Those elements will only lead them closer to Team USA consideration. However, both players weren’t on the gold-winning team this summer. The tem was still filled with enough greatness and talent to win.
The USA 2028 squad will almost certainly feature familiar superstar names. Some names that might be seen include Anthony Edwards, Devin Booker, Anthony Davis, Tyrese Haliburton, Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Bam Adebayo. This list leaves out LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Steph Curry, considering all three could be retired in four years. But, you never know. Perhaps, at the very least, Durant and Curry might still be in the picture.
Morant and Williamson, if their career paths leading up to the Los Angeles-based games remain clear of major injuries, as Vardon’s source alluded to, both players must be considered. They’re both just way too good and elite not to be. Imagining Ja light up the Olympics with his electric play is a wonderful picture to dream about. Taking into consideration that international talent and competitiveness are only increasing, Team USA needs to roll out the best of the best.
Still Four Years Away…
Team USA captured gold like it was yesterday, and four years from now is definitely a little ways down the road. The time is now for Ja Morant and Zion Williamson to take over the NBA as they have been expected to at times. The next time Team USA represents their nation in the Olympics is in the future. However, the time for Za and Zion to show they belong on that illustrious roster begins now. The 2024-25 NBA regular season is soon to begin.
