Devin Booker’s participation in the 2024 Olympics for the US team went unnoticed until the end of the tournament. The star guard was phenomenal and remained a reliable teammate for the other stars.

The ball wasn’t always in Booker’s hands, but he was effective in playing his role well. As a starting guard surrounded by other players who dominate the ball, the Phoenix Suns star was aware of his role in Paris as an off-ball threat.

During the Paris games, fans saw a different type of player in Booker. In the six games he played, the four-time All-Star took on the role of a spot-up shooter. He remained patient on the perimeter and was a reliable scorer when he was free. The former Kentucky star averaged 11.7 points, 2.7 rebounds and 3.3 assists.

The national team was confident in his attempts from the field, as he shot 56.8 percent from the field and 56.5 percent from beyond the arc. The ball was sure to go through the basket whenever he shot. It was Booker’s second time at the helm, and that type of play helped Team USA win another gold medal.

Booker became a key part of the team’s success, leading head coach Steve Kerr to call the Suns star their “secret MVP.” His development this year was proof that his game has matured and why he could be the oldest member of the team at the 2028 Olympics.

This year’s national team roster features some of the NBA’s most experienced stars. LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Steph Curry are all in the final years of their careers, meaning the recent Olympics could be their last appearance with Team USA.

James was asked after being named the tournament’s MVP. The four-time champion told reporters that he couldn’t see himself as part of Team USA at the 2028 Olympics. For Curry, fans may have seen his only appearance in the tournament over the summer. The Golden State Warriors star got his first and possibly only chance to play for Team USA at the Summer Olympics.

Kevin Durant has not ruled out the possibility of playing for the US team in 2028. There is still a chance that fans will see him play for the national team once again and win his fifth gold medal. At that time, he will be 39 years old and no one knows if he will still be actively playing basketball then.

That makes Booker one of the longest-tenured players on the U.S. team. Others might point out that Bam Adebayo and Jayson Tatum could still play for the national team. Adebayo has a better chance of making the Olympics. But the Suns star is still a more experienced player than the big man.

Tatum, on the other hand, had a rough time this summer. He didn’t play regularly and was benched in the opening game and the semifinal against Serbia. His experiences this summer could influence his commitment through 2028.

That makes Booker the single most experienced player who could be signed in four years. The guard fits well into the system Kerr has used in the last two Olympics, and his ability to transform his game from a ball-dominant scorer to a player who does the little things has secured him a spot in the future.

In the previous era, it was Carmelo Anthony who transformed into someone who would do anything to win. This era could use someone to fill that role, and Booker has answered that call.

As a player with a lot of experience, Booker could easily become the oldest player at the next Olympics.