Jayson Tatum represented the Duke basketball program in Paris, but the Blue Devils might have a large roster in Los Angeles in four years. There is still a lot of excitement surrounding Team USA’s second Olympic gold medal win.
There was a lot of uproar following Tatum’s decision to not play in the team’s first group play match against Serbia and his subsequent DNP against the Serbians in the semifinals.
Throughout the six games, he averaged only 11.8 minutes and 3.5 points per game. He played 11 minutes and scored two points in the gold medal victory versus France.
Tatum said that he will not let his lack of playing time deter him from competing in the Olympics in 2028 because he intends to win a third gold medal. If he decides to play, the NBA Champion would probably start at the top of the rotation and give Duke basketball another chance to capture a gold medal winner.
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Jayson Tatum might not be the only Blue Devil in the running to reach the Olympic squad in four years, though, as Paolo Banchero is anticipated to receive a nomination for the team. Banchero, a previous first overall choice, chose to represent the United States over Italy in the 2023 FIBA World Cup after Team USA lost the bronze medal game.
This winter, Banchero was chosen for his first NBA All-Star Game after averaging 22.6 points per game and leading the surprising Orlando Magic to the postseason. The former Blue Devil star should have no issue cracking the 2028 roster if he continues to improve.
Starting with Zion Williamson, there are definitely a lot of unresolved questions regarding the other two Duke basketball players who should be competing for spots on the Olympic team.
Williamson is one of the most dominant players in the NBA when healthy. But that is the problem.
A multitude of health issues have made it difficult for the former first overall pick to remain on the court. Additionally, questions have been made about his eating habits and capacity to stay in peak physical condition during an NBA season.
Who could logically predict his chances over the ensuing four years? If everything goes as planned, Zion should be making his Olympic debut in Los Angeles.
Cooper Flagg, a freshman at Duke, is the player that departed the team’s training camp this year with the most hype after being left off of the USA basketball squad, thus it only seems reasonable to have him on the potential roster.
He played well against guys like Anthony Davis and LeBron James, but by the time the 2028 Olympics arrived, he would only be 21 years old and in the middle of his third NBA season. Could he perhaps join the team too soon?
Only two competitors have qualified for the Olympics before turning 22 since 2004: Davis (2012) and Keldon Johnson (2021). If Flagg plays as well as everyone thinks, he should have a good shot of making the squad.
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