The emergence of the Redeem Team in 2008 reestablished the United States as the dominant force in international basketball. Carmelo Anthony recently admitted how they shut down the rising competition from countries like Spain, Argentina, and France. However, he recognized that modern international teams are no longer scared of the USA, and their performance in the 2024 Paris Olympics proves it. Consequently, Melo sounded worried about what might go down at the 2028 Olympics on home turf.
Melo on how international teams are no longer scared of Team USA
Speaking on his podcast, the 40-year-old former NBA star noted that while their international opponents were indeed competitive, the deployment of the best players with adequate time allowed Team USA to assert their superiority in the ‘08 Olympics. However, after witnessing other nations give a tough fight to Team USA despite the presence of several all-time greats on the roster, the newer generation of players are no longer intimidated by their star power, simply because they have grown up in an era where the USA were bested easily (2004 Olympics).
Moreover, observing nations such as South Sudan and Germany coming within striking distance of defeating arguably the finest USA team ever assembled, coupled with Serbia’s formidable challenge in the semifinals, the 10-time All-Star is convinced that when veterans like LeBron James are no longer representing the USA in the 2028 Olympics, the next generation of Team USA could face an even tougher competition.
"It’s proven like Germany won the World Cup last year and USA lost. So the rest of the world like is like, ‘Oh it’s shifting.’ It’s not shifting it's developing. France is developing into a basketball powerhouse. This is why they came out and said, ‘I’m looking forward to 2028 (Olympics).’ This gives us four years to really develop together and together, and I want to see what y'all bring to the table for that like that sh*t gave me chills. What Bogdanovic did gave me chills, " Anthony said . "I wouldn’t say that the world has caught up. I say the world has developed."
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Team USA will indeed have a tough road in the 2028 Olympics
Whether it’s Victor Wembanyama scoring a game-high 26 points in the gold medal game or three Serbian starters scoring in double digits in the semifinals, it’s clear that Team USA will face some tough competition from international teams in the following years.
These squads have spent a lot of time bringing their players together and ensuring harmony on the floor. So, while guys like Jayson Tatum might not have gotten the minutes they deserved this time around, they’ll need to step up big if the USA wants to defend its gold medal at home in four years' time.
Related: Carmelo Anthony explains what really happened during his viral exchange with Bogdan Bogdanovic: "I really wanted to cheer when he knocked that three down like that, but I can't show no emotion"
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