Team USA age, explained: How 2024 roster compares to Dream and Redeem Teams

28-07-2024
5 min read
(NBA Getty Images)

Team USA is set to embark on a pursuit of a fifth consecutive gold medal in men's basketball at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

This year's roster, headlined by superstars like LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and Kevin Durant, is widely considered among the most talented teams USA Basketball has ever sent to an Olympics.

With 10 gold medalists, 11 NBA All-Stars, four NBA MVPs, and six NBA champions across the 12-man unit, 2024 Team USA could rival some of the country's greatest squads, such as the 1992 Dream Team and 2008 Redeem Team.

The 2024 team is also an older bunch than USA Basketball is used to deploying for an Olympic tournament. How does this year's roster stack up in age against the Dream Team and the Redeem Team? The Sporting News breaks it down below.

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2024 Team USA Olympics roster age

USA Basketball got commitments from nearly all the best American talent the NBA has to offer. With James back in the fold, Durant suiting up and Curry making his Olympic debut, Team USA is leaning on older generational stars to guide the country to another gold medal.

The roster is comprised of mostly 30-year-olds with a few established 20-year-old stars to round out the group.

Player Age
LeBron James 39
Stephen Curry 36
Kevin Durant 35
Jrue Holiday 34
Anthony Davis 31
Joel Embiid 30
Derrick White 30
Devin Booker 27
Bam Adebayo 27
Jayson Tatum 26
Tyrese Haliburton 24
Anthony Edwards 22

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2008 Team USA "Redeem Team"roster age

After the United States finished with a bronze medal at the 2004 Olympics in Sydney, USA Basketball revamped the entire roster for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

Instead of leaning heavily on veterans, it embraced the NBA's rising young stars. Players like James, Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Paul led the charge alongside team captain Kobe Bryant.

The result was a perfect 8-0 record and a gold medal despite being one of the youngest teams in the tournament. 

Player Age
Jason Kidd 35
Kobe Bryant 29
Tayshaun Prince 28
Michael Redd 28
Dwyane Wade 26
Carlos Boozer 26
Carmelo Anthony 24
Chris Bosh 24
Deron Williams 24
LeBron James 23
Chris Paul 23
Dwight Howard 22

1992 Team USA "Dream Team" Olympics roster age

The Dream Team dominated its way to gold at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona behind a loaded roster that featured NBA superstars like Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, and Magic Johnson.

Bird and Johnson were on the other side of 30 but still had plenty of game left in the tank. Other stars, such as Jordan, Charles Barkley, Patrick Ewing, Karl Malone, and Chris Mullin, were all in their prime. Younger players like David Robinson and Scottie Pippen were already making a major impact in the NBA, too.

Player Age
Larry Bird 35
Magic Johnson 32
John Stockton 30
Clyde Drexler 30
Michael Jordan 29
Charles Barkley 29
Patrick Ewing 29
Karl Malone 28
Chris Mullin 28
David Robinson 26
Scottie Pippen 26
Christian Laettner 22

Comparing 2024 Team USA roster to Redeem Team, Dream Team

  2024 Team USA Redeem Team Dream Team
Youngest player 22, Anthony Edwards 22, Dwight Howard 22, Christian Laettner
Oldest player 39, LeBron James 35, Jason Kidd 35, Larry Bird
20 year olds 5 11 8
30 year olds 7 1 4
Average age 30.1 26.0 28.7

The youngest player on each elite version of Team USA was 22 years old, an honor held by Edwards, Howard, and Laettner.

Kidd and Bird were the oldest players on the Redeem Team and Dream Team, respectively, at 35. James is by far the oldest player on any of the rosters at 39.

The Redeem Team was the youngest roster by average age (26.0), only bringing one player over 30 to the Olympics. The Dream Team was a blend of 20- and 30-year-olds for an average age of 28.7. The 2024 Team USA roster has more 30-year-olds than 20-year-olds with the eldest average age of 30.1.