Who will carry the flag when the three elders retire? The US men s basketball team is in a vacuum for the leader at the 2028 Olympics, and the local defending title is hanging?

Dear guys, former NBA star Richard Jefferson recently played a "big move" on the show - he said that the US men's basketball team could not win the gold medal at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. As soon as this happened, fans talked: "Why is the Dream Team suddenly so unfavorable?" Let's have a good chat today. What happened to the American men's basketball team in recent years? Will they really fail in the local battle in 2028?

Pull the timeline back first. In recent international competitions, the American men's basketball team has been having a very uncomfortable life. In the 2019 World Cup, they made a "worst" game - they almost fell into Turkey's hands in the group stage and narrowly won 1 point in overtime; France was pressed on the ground in the semi-finals; Serbia played 32-7 in the first quarter, and finally only won 7th place. This result was never dared to imagine before.

In the 2023 World Cup, the United States "progressed" to fourth place, but lost even more awkwardly: he lost 3 games in 8 games, and was scored 127 points by Canada in the third place, setting a record of losing points in a single game in the team history. You said this is "progress"? I think it's more like "boiled frogs in warm water" - teams such as Lithuania, Germany, and Canada dare to compete with the United States now.

Looking at the Olympics again, although the US team has retained the gold medal in the past two sessions (Tokyo and Paris), it is a thrilling victory. In the Tokyo Olympics, it is said to be "Dream Team", but in fact it is "Durant One Team" - he averaged 20.7 points per game and carried the whole team forward. Except for Holiday, there is almost no one to find to take the blame. The Paris Olympics were even more exaggerated. The lineup brought the three old men of Jamdoku to the team, but they almost lost their way to the Serbia: in the semi-finals, the teacher scored 17 points, 5 rebounds and 11 assists, Serbia beat the United States in the whole game. If Curry hadn't made a big shot and scored 9 three-pointers (36 points, the second highest score in the team's history), James and Durant would have endured the final quarter, the gold medal would have gone long ago. The question is: Paris can win depends on the three elders "reversing the will of heaven"; what about 2028?

In 2028, James was 44 years old, Curry was 40 years old, and Durant was almost 40 years old, and he could not beat him. The core level of the American men's basketball team is about to be "out of gear". Looking at the new generation now, Tatum's condition after a serious injury to the Achilles tendon is a mystery. Edwards has poor stability - he performed as a "top player" in the 2023 World Cup, and his efficiency fluctuates greatly in the 2024 Olympics; Halliburton and Morant are either plagued by injuries or their styles are not suitable for international competitions.

What is even more heartbreaking is that the international team has collectively "upgraded". In 2028, the 24-year-old Wenbanyama should reach its peak. With him, Gagobert, the French team, his strength will only be stronger; Canada is led by Alexander, Germany is Wagner Brothers, Serbia's teacher is 33 years old and is still in the golden period, and his three-point shooting percentage in the past season was 41.7% (he was not good at the Paris Olympics, and if it is put, the US team may not be able to pass that semi-final). These teams have high tactical qualities, and their positional conduction and joint defense execution are better than Team USA. When they fight in a critical situation, Team USA is easily suppressed and beaten.

There are also issues with lineup running-in. The US team is a temporary team in every Olympic Games, with short training time and difficult to combine chemical reactions; on the other hand, international teams, such as Serbia and France, have core players playing together all year round, and they cooperate more tacitly. In addition, the pressure of local combat is high, and the mentality of young players collapses, and the scene may be even more chaotic.

Then what lineup may the US team be assigned in 2028? According to the predictions of US media, there may be Edwards, Booker, Halliburton on the back line; Bankairo and Tatum on the front line; Adebayo and Homgren on the inside. But the center is a big weakness - Adebayo and Homgren are not at the "No. 1" level in the NBA. Can they withstand the inside killing weapons such as Wenban Yama, Yoshiki, and Antetokounmpo?

Jefferson's prophecy is not alarmist. The core fault, the rise of strong enemies, and the difficulty of running-in, these three mountains are pressing down, and the US men's basketball team is indeed in lingering. But then again, the foundation of American basketball is still there - the world's most talent reserves. As long as one or two "hardware top" stars can emerge in the next three years (such as the top pick Flag), and then adjusting tactics against FIBA rules, it is not impossible to keep the gold medal.

The 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, is the "Dream Team" continuation of the legend, or the "Dynasty ends"? Let’s look at the European Championships at the end of August this year – international superstars such as Teacher, Antetokounmpo, and Doncic will appear, which is to "warm up" in 2028. Let’s see how far the American men’s basketball opponents have evolved.

Finally, let's be honest: The "Invincible Era" of the American men's basketball team has long disappeared, but the lean camel is bigger than a horse. In 2028, they may still be the favorites to win, but if they want to win, they have to fight hard - isn't this a good thing for basketball fans? After all, competition is more exciting.