Team USA is set to embark on a pursuit of a fifth consecutive gold medal in men’s basketball at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
This year’s roster, headlined by superstars like LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and Kevin Durant, is widely considered among the most talented teams USA Basketball has ever sent to an Olympics.
With 10 gold medalists, 11 NBA All-Stars, four NBA MVPs, and six NBA champions across the 12-man unit, 2024 Team USA could rival some of the country’s greatest squads, such as the 1992 Dream Team and 2008 Redeem Team.
The 2024 team is also an older bunch than USA Basketball is used to deploying for an Olympic tournament. How does this year’s roster stack up in age against the Dream Team and the Redeem Team? The Sporting News breaks it down below.
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USA Basketball got commitments from nearly all the best American talent the NBA has to offer. With James back in the fold, Durant suiting up and Curry making his Olympic debut, Team USA is leaning on older generational stars to guide the country to another gold medal.
The roster is comprised of mostly 30-year-olds with a few established 20-year-old stars to round out the group.
Player | Age |
LeBron James | 39 |
Stephen Curry | 36 |
Kevin Durant | 35 |
Jrue Holiday | 34 |
Anthony Davis | 31 |
Joel Embiid | 30 |
Derrick White | 30 |
Devin Booker | 27 |
Bam Adebayo | 27 |
Jayson Tatum | 26 |
Tyrese Haliburton | 24 |
Anthony Edwards | 22 |
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After the United States finished with a bronze medal at the 2004 Olympics in Sydney, USA Basketball revamped the entire roster for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.
Instead of leaning heavily on veterans, it embraced the NBA’s rising young stars. Players like James, Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Paul led the charge alongside team captain Kobe Bryant.
The result was a perfect 8-0 record and a gold medal despite being one of the youngest teams in the tournament.
Player | Age |
Jason Kidd | 35 |
Kobe Bryant | 29 |
Tayshaun Prince | 28 |
Michael Redd | 28 |
Dwyane Wade | 26 |
Carlos Boozer | 26 |
Carmelo Anthony | 24 |
Chris Bosh | 24 |
Deron Williams | 24 |
LeBron James | 23 |
Chris Paul | 23 |
Dwight Howard | 22 |
The Dream Team dominated its way to gold at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona behind a loaded roster that featured NBA superstars like Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, and Magic Johnson.
Bird and Johnson were on the other side of 30 but still had plenty of game left in the tank. Other stars, such as Jordan, Charles Barkley, Patrick Ewing, Karl Malone, and Chris Mullin, were all in their prime. Younger players like David Robinson and Scottie Pippen were already making a major impact in the NBA, too.
Player | Age |
Larry Bird | 35 |
Magic Johnson | 32 |
John Stockton | 30 |
Clyde Drexler | 30 |
Michael Jordan | 29 |
Charles Barkley | 29 |
Patrick Ewing | 29 |
Karl Malone | 28 |
Chris Mullin | 28 |
David Robinson | 26 |
Scottie Pippen | 26 |
Christian Laettner | 22 |
2024 Team USA | Redeem Team | Dream Team | |
Youngest player | 22, Anthony Edwards | 22, Dwight Howard | 22, Christian Laettner |
Oldest player | 39, LeBron James | 35, Jason Kidd | 35, Larry Bird |
20 year olds | 5 | 11 | 8 |
30 year olds | 7 | 1 | 4 |
Average age | 30.1 | 26.0 | 28.7 |
The youngest player on each elite version of Team USA was 22 years old, an honor held by Edwards, Howard, and Laettner.
Kidd and Bird were the oldest players on the Redeem Team and Dream Team, respectively, at 35. James is by far the oldest player on any of the rosters at 39.
The Redeem Team was the youngest roster by average age (26.0), only bringing one player over 30 to the Olympics. The Dream Team was a blend of 20- and 30-year-olds for an average age of 28.7. The 2024 Team USA roster has more 30-year-olds than 20-year-olds with the eldest average age of 30.1.
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