The 2024 Olympics again saw Team USA win the gold, but that nearly wasn't the case. They had to storm back against Serbia to even get to the gold medal game and they were challenged by France and Victor Wembanyama in the gold medal game.
Although they came out on top, Team USA's three best players, LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Stephen Curry, are all unlikely to return in 2028, as is Joel Embiid. That potential exodus of talent will force Team USA to go back to the drawing board to attract young NBA talent.
According to True Hoop's David Thorpe, they should potentially turn to San Antonio Spurs guard Devin Vassell. Vassell has quietly become one of the best shooters in the NBA and has taken major steps forward on both ends of the floor in the last couple of seasons.
How would Devin Vassell fit on Team USA in 2028?
Last season, he drilled into 38.5% of his seven 3-point attempts per game, and averaged 19.5 points. Not only that but he showed a knack for hitting difficult shots that he created off the dribble, something that wasn't a part of his game when he was selected 10th overall back in 2021. Vassell also displayed increased playmaking ability late last season after initially having tunnel vision, resulting in him averaging a career-high four assists per game.
With his star rising and him likely to get even better playing alongside Chris Paul and Wembanyama, he could be the perfect choice for Team USA in 2028, or perhaps sooner. While he likely won't be a featured player, Vassell initially made a name for himself with his defense.
Being able to defend, knock down open threes and even drain tightly contested shots off the dribble all sounds like something that Team USA could use. With the NBA's talent reserve of American players running thin and current stars possibly unwilling to participate in the World Championships in 2026, Vassell might get a shot earlier than 2028.
Should he gel well, he could join players like Jayson Tatum, Tyrese Maxey, Tyrese Haliburton, and Jaylen Brown in Los Angeles for the next Olympics. Based on that, Vassell could be a great option for Team USA going forward.