17 gold, 1 silver, and 2 bronze. A total of 20 medals have been hung on the wall since Team USA first appeared in the Olympics in 1936. That dominance continued at the 2024 Paris Games, where Team USA captured its fifth consecutive Olympic title. But as always, “there’s stress,” Tim Hardaway said, explaining what players feel on the international stage: “All eyes are on you. You got to go out there and perform. Go out there and win.” While the goal is always clear, the pressure can really catch up with you. Despite some doubts from fans after Paris, Draymond Green is confident the team will be ready for the next trip.

Returning on The Draymond Green Show, he made his message crystal clear, leaving no room for doubt: “I think the question that everyone has is — with the growth of Wemby, and obviously Joker — who Joker is and obviously Shai being who Shai is — is, are we worried about the next Olympics?’” Green didn’t hesitate: “And I’m gonna say, f— no, because I’m an American. And that’s what we do — we win the Olympics. So until somebody stops that, I see no reason to be worried about them. Period.”

With words that confident and an expression so stoic, you can just sit back and take Green’s word for it. But the fear is understandable. Team USA had a tense moment at the 2024 Olympics, narrowly holding off Serbia 95-91 after trailing by 17 points. It was a reminder of how rare an Olympic loss is for the Americans; the last time the men’s team didn’t win gold was Athens 2004, when they took bronze.

Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton opened up about his own struggles during the Games, telling ESPN’s Jamal Collier that playing just 26 total minutes, the fewest on the team, was a tough “ego check.” With limited court time, Haliburton admitted it was hard to find rhythm and chemistry, adding context to the worries some fans had about Team USA’s consistency.

With the gap closing between Team USA and the rest of the world, and elite talent emerging globally, especially in the NBA, where international stars like Nikola Jokić or Giannis Antetokounmpo shine, the Americans are under more scrutiny than ever. Even former players are sounding the alarm. 

Rashad McCants didn’t hold back: “Oh, we in trouble. Trouble. This is what the dude said. We seen the FIBA without the stars. We play the FIBA’s without y’all superheroes, we handling them, y’all ain’t even meta. Y’all ain’t meta without y’all Avengers. So, when them ni—as go, y’all in trouble,” McCants said.

Green has been quick to calm any nerves about Team USA’s chances in the next Olympics. Fans have already seen Victor Wembanyama’s offseason grind and his explosive start to the season, and it’s clear the French phenom isn’t the only big-name threat. 

Nikola Jokić has basically rewritten what a big man can do in today’s NBA. Over the past five seasons, he’s been the league’s best, racking up three MVPs and two runner-up finishes. Even though he didn’t take home the award in 2024-25, his numbers were insane, joining Oscar Robertson and Russell Westbrook as the only players to average a triple-double for an entire season, and the only non-guard to pull it off. EuroBasket 2025 only confirmed it: Jokić dropped 39 and 33 points in games, shooting an incredible 75% inside the arc, showing he’s still at the top of his game.

And then there’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the reigning MVP, who has been just as impressive. In a recent matchup against the Kings, he put up 31 points on 14-of-26 shooting, added nine rebounds, four assists, three blocks, and a steal in 36 minutes. He tied the game high in blocks and set a new season best in rebounds. The players are in prime shape, hungry, and ready to perform.

The 2028 Summer Olympics, officially the Games of the XXXIV Olympiad, will be held in Los Angeles from July 14 to 30, 2028. There’s plenty of time to sharpen skills, and Victor Wembanyama is already showing the way.

Draymond Green sees MVP potential

Draymond Green isn’t holding back when it comes to Victor Wembanyama. On the show, he made it clear that the young French phenom is already operating on a different level. “We must talk about Wemby,” Green said, recalling his explosive play. “He was dunkin’ and screamin’…like, he was on one. Then Game 3 comes, this is what he’s on. He’s on like, ‘I want the next MVP award and I don’t want it like, then, I want it now.’ He stay at this pace at this level, he’s gonna be like MVP, DPOY, Most Improved Player. He’s gonna be in position to compete for all those awards. And so I think, man, when you look at him, you can only sit and wonder what type of player it’s gonna take to guard him?”

And the stats are already screaming MVP! In just four games this season, Wemby is dominating the scoreboard. He’s averaging 31 points, nearly 14 rebounds, and close to five blocks per game. His shooting efficiency is impressive too, with 60% from the field, 36% from deep, and 80% from the line. He’s already helped lead the Spurs to a 4-0 start.

Wembanyama’s summer work has also been a major factor. The 7-foot-4 forward spent months learning from legends like Kevin Garnett and Hakeem Olajuwon, even training with monks, to sharpen his footwork and expand his arsenal of moves.

 It showed immediately in the season opener against the Dallas Mavericks, where he dropped 40 points and grabbed 15 rebounds, powering the Spurs to a 125–92 road win. That 40-point game was the most ever scored by a Spur in a season opener, marking his fifth career 40-point outing.

Even coming off an injury-plagued sophomore season, Wemby looks sharper, stronger, and more confident than ever. And it’s not just fans or commentators noticing: 16 out of 20 NBA experts surveyed, from coaches to executives, have already named him the player most likely to dominate the league by 2030. Green’s excitement isn’t hype; it’s a reflection of what everyone watching this kid in action can see