Former NBA star Dwight Howard recently weighed in on a hypothetical matchup between the 2008 Redeem Team and the 2024 Avengers, stating that the Redeem Team would win a seven-game series.
Howard, a key member of the 2008 Redeem Team, made his pick during an appearance on Gil’s Arena.
He pointed to the presence of Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, and Dwyane Wade in their primes as decisive factors.
“That’s a good one. I’m going with our team,” Howard said. “We got a prime Kobe Bryant, we got a young Bron [LeBron James], we got the ballhead Dwyane Wade, we got a young Carmelo [Anthony]…” he added.
The 2008 Redeem Team, which captured Olympic gold in Beijing, featured a roster that included Bryant, James, Wade, and Anthony, alongside Chris Bosh, Jason Kidd, Chris Paul, Tayshaun Prince, Michael Redd, Carlos Boozer, and Howard himself.
In contrast, the 2024 Avengers, fresh off their gold medal win in Paris, were led by a mix of veteran superstars and emerging talent.
The 2024 roster included James, Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, Joel Embiid, and Jayson Tatum, supported by Derrick White, Devin Booker, Jrue Holiday, Anthony Davis, Anthony Edwards, Bam Adebayo, and Tyrese Haliburton.
The Redeem Team is widely credited with restoring American dominance in international basketball after the disappointing performance of the 2004 Athens squad.
Their gold medal victory in 2008 was seen as a return to form for Team USA, with Kobe Bryant’s leadership and clutch performances playing a significant role in their success.
Meanwhile, the 2024 Avengers are celebrated for their versatility and the ability to adapt to the modern style of play, which emphasizes three-point shooting and positionless basketball.
With both teams comprising some of the most iconic figures in basketball history, the matchup remains a tantalizing “what if” scenario for fans of the sport.