Erik Spoelstra is the best choice as Team USA's next head coach

Team USA secured its fifth consecutive gold medal on Saturday, defeating France 98-87. While the program continues to dominate at the Olympics, it is evident that the rest of the world is catching up. So, what is next for Team USA Basketball?

The first step is finding a new head coach.

There is speculation that this could have been Steve Kerr's last Olympic run and the current Warriors coach could step down as the head of Team USA. Kerr took on the role in 2021 after Gregg Popovich led the team to a gold medal in the Tokyo Olympics.

So, who will replace Kerr?

Should Kerr step aside, Erik Spoelstra is a logical candidate to become Team USA's next head coach after working as an assistant since 2021.

If Spoelstra were to secure the head coaching position, he would face immense expectations. Team USA has won gold at every Olympics since 2008 and has medaled in every Games since 1980.

It would be a tall order, especially considering that Team USA competed in a field featuring an all-time high of 66 current and former NBA players in the 2024 Olympics, with that number expected to grow in future competitions. Spoelstra would follow in the footsteps of coaching legends such as Bob Knight, Chuck Daly, Mike Krzyzewski, Gregg Popovich, and more.

Spoelstra would likely also face the challenge of retooling Team USA's roster with this summer's top trio of LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry having competed in the Olympics for the last time.

If anyone is up for the task, it is the two-time NBA champion head coach

Spoelstra has one of the sharpest minds in the game, consistently getting the most out of his teams. He has led the Heat to five NBA Finals, including a remarkable run as an eighth seed in 2023, and has only missed the postseason three times in his first 15 years coaching the team. Spoelstra was also named one of the 15 greatest coaches of all time and is widely regarded as one of the best, if not the best, coaches in today’s NBA.

If there is anyone who can continue Team USA's dominance in men's basketball at the 2028 Olympics and beyond, Spoelstra is the clear choice. Leading Team USA would be a phenomenal opportunity for Spoelstra to further solidify his legacy as one of the greatest coaches of all time. Although the USA has already secured a spot in the 2028 Olympics as the host country, Spoelstra would begin shaping his roster at the 2027 FIBA World Cup in Qatar.