Team USA set to announce NBA legend as head coach for 2028 Olympic Games

The Team USA basketball program is looking to extend a run of five consecutive gold medals at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, although it looks like there will be a new man at the helm.

Those five previous gold medals were won with Gregg Popovich and Steve Kerr as the head coach, but Kerr looks set to be replaced for the US Olympics in three years time. ESPN reports that Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra will step in to lead the team, bringing enormous NBA coaching experience to the position.

Ever since the shock failure at the 2004 Olympics, the Team USA basketball program has focused on continuity across cycles. Spoelstra was the lead assistant on Steve Kerr’s staff at the 2024 Olympics in Paris and he now has the chance to extend the program’s incredible record on home soil.

Spoelstra has become one of the most respected coaches in modern NBA history, known for his adaptability and relentless work ethic. As head coach of the Miami Heat since 2008, Spoelstra has guided the franchise through multiple eras, from the ‘Big Three’ championship runs with LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, to gritty, defense-first squads built around Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo.

The son of longtime NBA executive Jon Spoelstra, Erik grew up immersed in the game. After playing college basketball at the University of Portland, he joined the Heat organization in 1995 as a video coordinator and rose through the ranks before eventually becoming head coach in 2008.

Across his 17 seasons with the Heat, Spoelstra has won two NBA titles and made multiple Finals appearances. His steady leadership keeps Miami in the conversation year after year, and he will bring a wealth of experience to a Team USA squad that will be under incredible pressure to succeed in Los Angeles.

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