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

Kyle Irving

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

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.

MORE: Team USA makes great choice with LeBron James as Olympic flag-bearer

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.

PlayerAge
LeBron James39
Stephen Curry36
Kevin Durant35
Jrue Holiday34
Anthony Davis31
Joel Embiid30
Derrick White30
Devin Booker27
Bam Adebayo27
Jayson Tatum26
Tyrese Haliburton24
Anthony Edwards22

MORE: LeBron James has made it clear he is still Team USA's No. 1 option

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. 

PlayerAge
Jason Kidd35
Kobe Bryant29
Tayshaun Prince28
Michael Redd28
Dwyane Wade26
Carlos Boozer26
Carmelo Anthony24
Chris Bosh24
Deron Williams24
LeBron James23
Chris Paul23
Dwight Howard22

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.

PlayerAge
Larry Bird35
Magic Johnson32
John Stockton30
Clyde Drexler30
Michael Jordan29
Charles Barkley29
Patrick Ewing29
Karl Malone28
Chris Mullin28
David Robinson26
Scottie Pippen26
Christian Laettner22

Comparing 2024 Team USA roster to Redeem Team, Dream Team

 2024 Team USARedeem TeamDream Team
Youngest player22, Anthony Edwards22, Dwight Howard22, Christian Laettner
Oldest player39, LeBron James35, Jason Kidd35, Larry Bird
20 year olds5118
30 year olds714
Average age30.126.028.7

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.

Kyle Irving

Kyle Irving Photo

You read that wrong – not Kyrie Irving. From Boston, graduated from the University of New Hampshire. Sixth season as a content producer for NBA.com's Global editions. Covering the NBA Draft has become his annual "dream come true" moment on the job. Irving has a soft spot for pass-first point guards, with Rajon Rondo and Steve Nash being two of his favorite players of all time.