CBS Sports predicts Joel Embiid will play in the 2028 Olympics, what about Tyrese Maxey?

The 2024 Olympics gave Sixers fans plenty to cheer about. Joel Embiid donned the red, white, and blue in Paris, helping Team USA take home yet another gold medal.

This wasn’t just a ceremonial roster spot. Embiid played a huge role in the semifinal comeback win over Serbia, making clutch plays down the stretch that kept the Americans’ gold medal hopes alive.

Joel Embiid vs Serbia – 2024 Olympics

Pump fake ➡️ Poster 💥

Joel Embiid drops the hammer 🔨

🇺🇸-🇷🇸 | #Paris2024 Semifinals
📺 USA Network & Peacock

pic.twitter.com/r1MLwbAFC1

— NBA (@NBA) August 8, 2024

Side Note: It was no coincidence that the Americans outscored Serbia by 17 points in the 27 minutes Embiid was on the court.

Legendary performance by my favorite player Joel Embiid to help lead Team USA past the talented Serbia Team 🙌🏽🔥

Had to make a highlight reel for his big day 🎥✨Goosebumps 🇺🇸 Plz share 🙏🏽

• 19 PTS
• 4 REB
• 1 BLK
• 2 AST
• 8/11 FGM
• 2/3 3PM
• 1/1 FTM
• 26 MIN
• +15 pic.twitter.com/daDCceAJ6e

— Kris76 (@KlutchKris76) August 9, 2024

Anyways, fast-forward to this year and the conversation has already shifted to the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.

CBS Sports believes that the Sixers will yet again, have Embiid playing in the Olympics for Team USA.

• JOEL EMBIID
• Age in 2028: 34
• Olympic appearances: 2024

We’re going to choose to be optimistic here and say that Embiid will be healthy enough to contribute to Team USA in 2028. He was dominant in limited minutes in Paris, playing a major part in the Americans’ fourth-quarter comeback to beat Serbia in the semifinal.

Joel Embiid’s 2028 Outlook

Joel Embiid will be 34 when the 2028 Games roll around. That’s not ancient, but given his injury history, there’s no guarantee he’ll suit up. Still, CBS Sports is taking the optimistic route, projecting that the big man will be healthy enough to run it back.

You have to imagine that the recipe stays the same, with limited minutes, big impact, and that unique mix of size and skill that can swing a game on the international stage.

Tyrese Maxey should be considered as well

The more intriguing wrinkle is Tyrese Maxey’s candidacy.

By 2028, he’ll be 27, smack in the middle of his prime and potentially sitting among the NBA’s elite guards. But it’s not an easy roster to crack. Team USA will have a deep pool featuring guys like Jalen Brunson, Anthony Edwards, Cade Cunningham, Devin Booker, Donovan Mitchell, and more.

That said, Maxey’s speed, scoring punch, and relentless motor could make him a perfect fit for the international game. If his trajectory continues, the Sixers’ backcourt star will at least be in the conversation.

The Competition Is Closing the Gap

Even if both Embiid and Maxey make the cut, winning gold in 2028 won’t be a cakewalk. The rest of the world has closed the gap, as we saw in Paris when the Americans were pushed to the brink more than once.

Serbia, France, Germany, you name it. I don’t think that anyone is afraid of the stars-and-stripes jersey anymore, which is fine with me. All that nonsense and false-sense of belonging from these other inferior countries will make beating them and taking home another gold medal that much better.

Anyways, two Sixers on Team USA, competing on home soil in Los Angeles would be quite the sight and maybe even the boost Team USA needs to keep its grip on Olympic basketball gold.

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