Team USA coach Steve Kerr told reporters after the victory that the basketball superstar had to get stitches to close up a gash over his left eye, which was the result of Brazil’s Georginho de Paula hitting James with his elbow as they were going for a rebound in the third quarter.
James quickly grabbed his face and went to the ground as the Brazilian apologized before Team USA called a timeout so that James could come out of the game to be attended to.
He stayed on the bench momentarily before eventually going to the locker room.
LeBron James needed to get stitches for the injury. CAROLINE BREHMAN/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
The four-time NBA MVP returned to the bench in the closing minutes of the game to see the Americans secure the win that punched their ticket to Thursday’s semifinal against Serbia.
James didn’t see any further action after returning from the locker room and finished the game with 12 points on 5 of 6 shooting in just 17 minutes of playing time.
“I’m OK. I just got hit with an inadvertent elbow,” James told reporters after the game.
LeBron James of the US covers his eye after taking the shot to his head. CAROLINE BREHMAN/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
Lebron James States reacts after being hit in the face during a men’s basketball quarterfinal game. Getty Images
He also recorded nine assists, three steals and three rebounds.
James has been one of Team USA’s biggest pieces, playing a critical part in their success while leading the U.S. with 7.8 assists per game during the tournament.
“That’s who LeBron is,” Kerr added . “For a guy who truly is a point forward at heart, for him to be the leading scorer in NBA history when that’s kind of the secondary thing that he does, it’s crazy. … He’s playing at such a high level, obviously, he’s got so much talent around him. So the game makes a lot of sense when he’s controlling it.”
James is expected to be available for the game against Serbia.
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