LeBron James and Stephen Curry spent the summer of 2024 rescuing Team USA. Their performances in Paris weren’t just good; they were the reason the Americans escaped with gold. Ever since that night, fans have been waiting for one answer. Would the two legends suit up again in 2028, this time in Los Angeles?
On the newest episode of Mind the Game, the two finally addressed it head-on.
Steve Nash brought up the topic casually. When he asked LeBron if he planned to play in 2028, James didn’t tease or hesitate.
“You already know my answer, so don’t even. I will be watching in Cabo.”
He laughed after saying it, but everyone understood the message. LeBron is done with Olympic basketball. He’ll be 43 when the Games begin in LA. Even if he’s still in the NBA, another summer grind against the world’s best isn’t something he’s signing up for.
Curry’s conclusion wasn’t much different. Last year, before Paris, he hinted he might do 2028 if the chance came. But his tune seems to have shifted.
“It is the opposite answer of what I told him last year. God willing, I still have the choice and the physical option to be like, I could actually impact the team. Never say never, but I highly doubt it. Highly doubt it. Love to be a part of the movement.”
By the time the 2028 Games arrive, Curry will be 40. His game doesn’t rely on brute athleticism, but Olympic-level competition after a full NBA season is another story altogether.
There is one exception in the old guard. Kevin Durant hasn’t fully closed the door. He has said he’ll consider one more Olympic run if his body holds up. But Durant will be 39 when the tournament starts. Even for him, that’s a stretch. He’s the greatest scorer in Team USA history, but even the great ones deal with time eventually.
So what does that mean for Team USA? A full reset.
The last time the Olympics were held on American soil was in 1996. Back then, the gap between the U.S. and everybody else was enormous. That gap doesn’t exist anymore. France nearly beat the Americans in 2024. Serbia pushed them late. Canada is building a contender with real depth. The Paris gold happened because LeBron, Curry, and Durant reached deep and delivered three vintage games in a row.
In 2028, someone else will have to carry the weight.
That responsibility now shifts to the next generation: Anthony Edwards, Jayson Tatum, Devin Booker, Tyrese Haliburton, Bam Adebayo, and whoever else rises in the next four years. Home crowds bring energy, but they also bring pressure. Anything short of gold feels like failure when the Games are in your own country.
For now, the picture looks clear.
LeBron is out.
Curry says he’s very unlikely.
Durant hasn’t decided yet.
The group that saved Team USA in 2024 almost certainly won’t be there in 2028.
A new era is coming, and the countdown to Team USA’s next identity has officially started.
