LeBron James will not participate in the 2028 Olympics! Stephen Curry’s chances of competing are also very slim, according to predictions by U.S. media about new team members.

On November 19 Beijing time, in the second episode of the podcast chat between Lakers star LeBron James and Warriors star Stephen Curry, James explicitly confirmed he will not take part in the 2028 Olympics, and Curry indicated his likelihood of playing is also very slim.

“You already know my answer,” James said, “I’ll be watching the games from home.” At the time of the 2028 Olympics, James will be 43, and Curry will have just turned 40. Unlike James’s definitive refusal, Curry told the podcast “Mind the Game” co-host and questioner Nash that his chances of competing are very low.

“If everything goes well, I still have the option and physical condition to contribute to the team,” Curry said, “Nothing is absolute, but I’m very doubtful, extremely doubtful.” So there remains a slight possibility? Although at 40 he might still maintain All-Star level, he may also have chosen to retire or reduce his playing intensity by then.

LeBron James has competed in the Olympics four times, winning a bronze medal in 2004 and gold medals in 2008, 2012, and 2024. Curry made his Olympic debut at the 2024 Paris Games, delivering a legendary performance in the gold medal match to help Team USA defeat France and claim the top spot.

“We can’t surpass what we just achieved,” James said, “How could we top the performances in the last two games?” After helping the U.S. men’s basketball team secure their fifth consecutive Olympic gold at the 2024 Paris Games, James and Curry stood at the pinnacle of the basketball world. James earned his third Olympic gold and was named MVP of the tournament, while Curry finally secured his first Olympic medal leading the U.S. to victory over France. This marked the first time the two played side by side outside of All-Star games, delivering perfect performances in every aspect.

Without James and Curry, the U.S. men’s basketball team may face unprecedented pressure at the 2028 Olympics, and their absolute dominance over the gold medal could be challenged. Who will fill this void?

The 2024 U.S. men’s basketball roster gives us an initial glimpse of the next generation of leaders. Edwards and Haliburton were the youngest members then and are expected to take on larger roles by the 2028 Olympics. The same applies to players like Tatum and Adebayo, who had limited playing time in Paris. Booker has proven himself as a reliable "plug-and-play" option in two Olympic campaigns, so it’s reasonable to expect his selection again. Additionally, if healthy (which remains uncertain), Embiid and Davis will undoubtedly be called up again.

If James, Curry, Durant, Derrick White, and Jrue Holiday all step away from the national team, U.S. media CBS believes the following players might be considered to fill those gaps—

Jalen Brunson

Donovan Mitchell

Jaylen Brown

Tyrese Maxey

Cade Cunningham

Jalen Williams

Chet Holmgren

Paolo Banchero

Cooper Flagg

Amen Thompson

Evan Mobley

The U.S. team is not lacking talent, but finding players who can instantly change the course of a game like James or Curry is much more difficult. Indeed, international basketball emphasizes team play more than the NBA, and when a 12-man roster is composed entirely of America’s top players, you don’t want one person to score 35 points while others just stand around — that’s not the best use of such talent. However, we also saw Curry transform into a “superhero” during the gold medal match against France, leading the U.S. across the finish line. You don’t always need such players, but having stars like Curry, James, and Durant who can reliably score at any time is undoubtedly a huge advantage.

In 2028, who will be the “key player” for Team USA? Currently, the top four NBA players by ranking are not Americans. Canada has MVP Alexander, Serbia boasts three-time MVP Jokic, Greece features two-time MVP Giannis, and Slovenia has Doncic. Among these four, the teams led by Alexander and Jokic are fully capable of challenging the U.S.

Moreover, the French team led by Wembanyama was delivering MVP-level performances this season before missing games due to a calf injury. France gave Team USA significant trouble in the Paris Olympic gold medal match, and as Wembanyama continues to improve, they will only grow stronger.

In the past, the U.S. team always had the NBA’s top players, but the situation in 2028 will be different. The U.S. will still field a very strong squad with MVP candidates and All-Stars, but compared to past teams featuring James, Durant, and in 2024, Curry, the overall strength will inevitably decline. The era of U.S. dominance over top basketball talent may reach a tipping point at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.