As the 2024 Olympic Games officially kicked off in Paris on Friday, a familiar face carried the signature stars and strips for Team USA. As the first men's basketball star to receive the honor, LeBron James was all smiles as he proudly held the flag in pouring rain.
It's yet another historic feat for King James, who continues to break records after 21 years as a pro. The 39-year-old athlete is undoubtedly worthy of the honor considering his status as one of the greatest athletes in United States history. And now, people are once against celebrating his amazing career and the unprecedented success that has defined it.
The U.S. is just one of 206 countries represented in the Olympics this year but the whole world took note of their arrival today with one of the world's premier athletes leading the way.
And while the moment seemed relatively brief, the whole affair was carefully orchestrated and involved hours of preparation. James himself had to be fitted for the iconic white coat as he prepared for flag-bearing duties.
James could have taken the summer off like Kawhi Leonard , James Harden, and countless other NBA athletes, but he chose to commit and help his country win at almost 40 years old. Whether you love him or hate him, LeBron is undoubtedly a legend among American athletes and there may be nobody more worthy to carry the flag this year than him.
Of course, now that the ceremony is concluded, the real work begins for LeBron and his teammates. Despite a stacked roster, the competition is stronger than ever this year with teams like France, Serbia, and Canada having enough firepower to challenge Team USA. Just last week, South Sudan gave the U.S. a good scare and would have won their exhibition game if not for LeBron's amazing layup at the buzzer.
Meanwhile, the USA clearly lacks in chemistry compared to other teams who have been playing together for years. Head coach Steve Kerr has tried his best to find lineups that fit but with so much talent and so few games played together, it hasn't been the cleanest performance on the court for the USA.
Still, they went undefeated in all exhibition games and are entering the tournament as the overwhelming favorites to win the gold. LeBron James, even at this stage of his career, will be a big part of their success.
He's been the hero of USA basketball this summer with game-saving plays and impressive moments time and time again. He's the leading scorer of the club with an average of 14.2 points per game and he's been setting up everyone offensively with a team-high 3.6 assists per game.
Since training camp, LeBron has been the best basketball player on the floor for the USA and it's been almost unbelievable to watch. But now the focus will shift to the first game against Serbia, which takes place in just two days. LeBron and the rest of the team will have to be at the peak of their game to win that contest but they seem more than up for the challenge.
Related: Stephen Curry: "Playing With LeBron James Is Exactly How I Imagined It..."
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