LeBron James is arguably the greatest basketball player the sport has ever seen, and now he has been given one of the biggest honors an athlete can be given. It has been announced that James has been voted to be the Team USA flag bearer at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
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During the opening ceremonies on the River Seine, James will dawn the flag. What makes this honor even more special is no men’s basketball player has ever been given the honor of being the flag bearer for the ceremony.
James is set to appear in his fourth Olympics, as he previously competed with Team USA in Athens in 2004, securing a bronze medal, in 2008 in Beijing when he won a gold medal, and in 2012 in London, when he and Team USA secured another gold medal.
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“It’s an incredible honor to represent the United States on this global stage, especially in a moment that can bring the whole world together,” James said in a statement from London, where Team USA will play its final pre-Olympic exhibition game Monday against Germany.
“For a kid from Akron, this responsibility means everything to not only myself, but to my family, all the kids in my hometown, my teammates, fellow Olympians and so many people across the country with big aspirations. Sports have the power to bring us all together, and I’m proud to be a part of this important moment,” James added.
James joins a stacked Team USA roster that includes Stephen Curry, Anthony Davis, Devin Booker, Joel Embiid, Bam Adebayo, Anthony Edwards and Tyrese Haliburton, and Kevin Durant.
So far, the starting five for the team has not yet been set, though James, Kevin Durant, and Stephen Curry have all remained in the rotating starters during exhibition matches. The final Team USA exhibition will take place on Monday, with the team taking on Germany.
Team USA will then have a bit of a break between the opening ceremony and when they will first compete. July 28 is the team’s first matchup, which will see the U.S. take on Serbia.
Team USA and Serbia have already faced off against one another in an exhibition on July 17, which saw the U.S. defeat Serbia with a 105-79 final score.
Team USA hopes to secure their fourth gold medal in a row in Paris, and they certainly have the roster to get the job done.
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