6 Potential Team USA one-two punches that can deliver them the gold

4) Kevin Durant-Joel Embiid

Team USA caught a major break when 2023 MVP Joel Embiid opted against playing for France. That would have resulted in an Embiid, Rudy Gobert, and Victor Wembanyama frontcourt trio that could have been a real threat.

However, with Embiid wearing red, white, and blue, they maintain a clear talent advantage over the rest of the field. That doesn't always lead to the gold medal but they have three of the top-five centers in the NBA on their roster, with Embiid a threat to cook the international competition like he does in the NBA.

He is all but certain to be joined in the starting lineup by an all-time great, Kevin Durant, who will be playing in his fourth Olympics. At 6'10 and with arms for days, he can play power forward for Team USA next to Embiid and the pairing could give opponents fits trying to stop them.

Whether it be Durant's patented pull-up jumper, which with a shorter 3-point line could actually result in more threes, or Embiid bodying other bigs in the paint, the U.S. will have plenty of offensive potential in the frontcourt. That's not even to mention that LeBron James will join them.