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Richard Jefferson made a bold prediction surrounding the USA basketball team ahead of the 2028 Olympic Games. He does not believe they’ll win a gold medal.
The former NBA star believes other countries will have more star power. The American talent is leaving.
Jefferson knows what it takes to by an Olympian. He competed at the 2004 Games in Athens, Greece. He did not, however, win a gold medal.
Team USA won bronze that year while watching Italy and Argentina battle in the gold medal matchup. That team was impacted by a number of withdrawals which depleted the roster. It’s also the last US team to not finish first.
Richard Jefferson thinks the 2028 team will follow suit.
While speaking on his Road Trippin’ podcast, he gave his reasoning. Outgoing talent combined with competitive balance amongst other Olympic challengers led to his hot take.
“The US will not win gold in LA in three years,” he said. “Did you see it took a Herculean effort [to win in 2024]?… Without KD, without Steph, without LeBron, without Embiid, without the avengers, we would not have won the gold medal.
“Who is going to be the crew in three years?… Fast forward three years, I don’t think the US will be favored to win the gold medal. If you told me, them vs. the field, I might take the field.”
Jefferson doesn’t believe players like LeBron James and Kevin Durant will be available for Team USA three years from now. They’re closer to retirement than another Olympic appearance.
On the flip side, France will have a “more developed” Victor Wembanyama, as well as young talent currently moving up the ranks.
“In my mind, France [can] field a team of 12 players in three-to-four years that will be on par with the US, not collectively the basketball talent, we’re talking about the team,” he continued.
Jefferson’s biggest criticism was that Team USA lacks dominant bigs. It’s a legitimate concern. Still, seeing the US as an underdog in Los Angeles would be a surprise.
Will Team USA make the former Olympian eat his words or will his grim prediction of the gold medal failure come to fruition? It will certainly be a talking point come 2028!