Aaron Gordon
Aaron Gordon would be the epitome of a glue guy for Team USA in 2028 if he were to receive the honor. While Holiday and White both acted as the defensive glue guys for Team USA in Paris this year, Gordon would bring the same defensive intensity with additional strength and size.
Standing at six-foot-eight, he would provide positional flexibility as he can play power forward, small-ball center, or even small forward (if there is enough three-point shooting at the positions around him). He would also be comfortable with limited minutes and/or in a tertiary role, which other candidates may not be if they’re used to being the No. 1 option on their NBA team.
Gordon is 28 years old, meaning he will be 32 when the next Olympics roll around, making him right in the sweet spot of a seasoned veteran but still on the edge of his prime. The biggest concern that could hinder AG’s chances at making the Team USA squad is his inconsistent three-point shooting.
He is a career below-average shooter from beyond the arc and shot an abysmal 29.0% from deep last season. Something to keep in mind is that the FIBA three-point line is closer than the NBA line, so perhaps Gordon’s shooting would improve on the international scene. Regardless, improving that aspect of his game could make or break his chances with Team USA.
The last thing that bodes incredibly well for Gordon is the fact that he already appears to be securely in the USA pipeline. Earlier this year, Grant Hill, the managing director of the USA Basketball Men’s National Team, announced a 41-athlete player pool of which the top 12 players would be selected. Gordon was on that list. He also was part of the USA Select Team in 2016 and won gold medals with the U16 and U19 USA National Teams earlier in his career.