Team USA's men's basketball team completed their mission on Saturday night, bringing home the gold medal after beating France 98-87. Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James named this year's squad “the Avengers,” and it's a moniker that has quickly caught on. Fellow teammate and Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry endorsed the nickname via X, formerly Twitter.
After capturing yet another gold medal for their country, this may be the last ride for veteran stars James, Curry and Kevin Durant. If that is indeed the case, then going out on top is how any athlete would love to finish a part of their career. “The Avengers” completed their quest for gold, and a championship homecoming awaits them.
Is this the last ride for Stephen Curry and other Team USA veterans?
Although Curry said, “Avengers Unite” instead of the customary “Avengers Assemble,” the message was very clear. This is a team loaded with stars, including four former MVPs. Those MVPs? Curry, James, Durant and Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid. The big man almost played for France during these Olympic games but decided to play with FIBA's top-ranked team instead. Sounds like a good choice for Embiid when all things are said and done.
All four of the former MVPs' contributions to the team were crucial, as they started the majority of the games for Team USA. Other contributors such as the Boston Celtics' trio of Jayson Tatum, Jrue Holiday and Derrick White, as well as James' Lakers teammate Anthony Davis, also played key roles in the latest men's basketball gold medal. The program will look to players such as Tatum to be the future pillars of the team, as this could very well be the last time we see the combination of Curry, James and Durant together on a global stage.
How will Team USA look when 2027 rolls around?
Members of the latest gold-medal winning team that should be around when the 2027 FIBA World Cup rolls around include Tatum, the Indiana Pacers' Tyrese Haliburton and the Minnesota Timberwolves' Anthony Edwards. In three years, they will be 29, 27 and 24 respectively, so their growth should continue over that time frame. Tatum and Haliburton will likely be in their primes as well, while Edwards should be close.
Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (30 in 2027), the Miami Heat's Bam Adebayo (also 30) and other Team USA Select members like the Orlando Magic's Paolo Banchero and Toronto Raptors' Scottie Barnes could also make the next team, depending on how these next couple of NBA seasons shake out. Booker and Adebayo seem like almost sure things along with Tatum, Haliburton and Edwards. Younger players such as probable 2025 NBA Draft No.1 overall pick Cooper Flagg and the Oklahoma City Thunder's Chet Holmgren could also make the team.
Whomever is on it, one thing is certain: they will need their own nickname to match the previous versions of Team USA. Whether it is the Dream Team, Redeem Team or the Avengers, they all share one thing in common: gold medals.
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