Legends vs. Phenoms: Olympic Basketball’s Future Showdown

The original and the sequel were legendary, filled with intense drama and heroes shining in the final moments. But just wait until Hollywood delivers the potential trilogy.


Three summers ago, at the Tokyo Olympics, Kevin Durant dropped 29 points in a spectacular gold medal game, edging out France by five points to secure the gold for the U.S.


Fast forward to Saturday night, inside France’s national arena. With the teams separated by a mere three points in the fourth quarter, Steph Curry elevated his Hall of Fame legacy, delivering a clutch 3-point shooting masterclass that sealed a 98-87 U.S. victory, leaving French fans heartbroken.


As the spotlight shifts to American soil with LA28 on the horizon, so too does the fierce rivalry between Team USA and Team France, a contest that shows no signs of waning.


“The U.S. remains the best team in the world, but we’re inching closer,” Nicolas Batum said after his final game for France. “We respect them, but fear is not in our vocabulary. We’ll go out there and aim to beat them.”


In 2024, Team USA’s finest included legends like LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Stephen Curry, all icons in their mid-30s. France’s brightest star? The 20-year-old phenom, Victor Wembanyama.


Since 2004, Team USA boasts a 36-1 record at the Olympics, with the lone loss coming from France in Tokyo during pool play. But the U.S. has since rebounded, winning the next two high-stakes meetings and leaving the French with silver. However, French basketball is undeniably on the rise, and in four years, the challenge for the U.S. will likely intensify.


U.S. gymnast Jordan Chiles loses bronze medal in floor exercise


In the 2023 and '24 NBA drafts, five French players were selected in the lottery, including two consecutive No. 1 overall picks: Victor Wembanyama and Zaccharie Risacher. This June, big man Alex Sarr went No. 2, making it a French double to open the draft. And next year, young French guard Nolan Traore is projected to be yet another lottery pick for Team France to nurture.


“In all honesty, [in the title game] I expected more, and it has shown me that we could [beat the U.S.], but it requires perfection, and we didn’t achieve that,” said Vincent Collet, France’s national team coach for the past 15 years. “But I believe with just a bit more, we could’ve pushed them much further. OK, we didn’t, but we were close. I’m certain we could do better. … They dominate because their individual talent provides a real margin.”


Collet is known for his bluntness, and while his statements hold empirical truth, he stopped short of addressing what lies beneath: The American edge in individual talent is under threat.


Enter Wembanyama, once again stepping into the spotlight. While he didn’t dominate at the Paris games, his performance in the gold medal game was inspiring. He tallied a game-high 26 points, grabbed seven rebounds, and as expected, his length and defensive agility gave the U.S. all kinds of trouble.


Even without LeBron James or Kevin Durant, Team USA’s 2028 squad should still be brimming with talent, possibly including Joel Embiid, Anthony Edwards, and Jayson Tatum.


The legends of this cycle—Durant, Curry, and Olympics MVP LeBron James—carried America to gold in their mid- to late 30s. France’s best player is just 20.


The U.S. also has promising young talent. This summer, Anthony Edwards took another step toward becoming one of the program’s next greats. Jayson Tatum and Anthony Davis, both with two gold medals, have expressed interest in playing in Los Angeles in 2028. Tyrese Haliburton was slowed by a minor leg injury at the Olympics, but he still has a future with the program. Ja Morant, another potential national team member, has been out of the spotlight but remains a strong option.


At Team USA training camp, there was talk of Cooper Flagg, the potential No. 1 pick in 2025, who could also make an impact in four years.


Grant Hill, USA Basketball’s managing director, is expected to stay with the program, guiding the team through the 2027 World Cup in Qatar and the Los Angeles Games. However, a new coach may be on the horizon.


Steve Kerr, U.S. coach, added a gold medal to his collection of four rings as coach of the Golden State Warriors and five NBA championships as a player. While he joked about retiring as national team coach, no final decision has been made, though it seems likely. Erik Spoelstra and Ty Lue, this year’s lead assistant coaches, are top candidates to take over.


While much remains uncertain, one thing is clear: Team USA will face the French—and Wembanyama—again, with gold likely on the line.


“Nobody knows what the future holds, but what is certain is that we are growing. Basketball is growing here,” Wembanyama said. “Nobody can take this experience from me. I’m learning, and I believe our opponents should be worried in a few years.”



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