LeBron James is began competing in the Olympic men’s basketball competition when he was just 19 years old and a rookie in the NBA. The 6-8 forward is 39 years old. And is playing in his fourth Olympics, having won a bronze medal in 2004 and two golds in 2008 and 2012. This is his final chance to showcase his greatness on the international stage after a 12- year absence.
James, a four-time NBA MVP, made history Friday when he selected as the first NBA player to carry the American flag for the men’s side as voted by his peers.
It is no surprise.
James has emerged as the ultimate closer and the most important player on an American team that is the heavily favored on paper but is finding out this Olympic tournament field is filled with medal contenders. Team USA needed a driving layup by James with eight seconds to play to rally from a 16-point deficit to defeat 43-point underdog South Sudan, 101-100, in a turnup game in London, then needed him to take over the game in the final moments, scoring his team’s final 11 points during a 92-88 victory over defending World champion Germany two days later.
This is an older US team with future Hall of Famers James, guard Steph Curry, forward Kevin Durant (if healthy) and center Anthony Davis expected to play important roles. “It’s amazing to be in the twilight of our careers and still be able to showcase our talents,” James said.
The gold standard for Olympic basketball has always been the Dream Team in 1992, which buried everyone they play. But when the Americans with Michael, Magic and Charles embarrassed the rest of the world, there were only nine internationals in the NBA. This year, there are 61.
Team USA, which won all five of its tuneups, has the most talent and depth of any of the 12 teams competing, but basketball has become a global game.
Australia, Serbia, Canada and Germany are capable of challenging the Americans if they make double digit threes from the international line Most have played together on the national team for between 12 and 15 years and have noticeable chemistry.
The team I’m most interested in is Germany. They don’t have an NBA MVP like Greece, Serbia or the United States. But they have a dominant lead guard in Dennis Schroeder and a talented front line of Franz Wagner, Moritz Wagner and Daniel Theis.
Franz Wagner scored 22 points and grabbed 6 rebounds as Germany dominated Japan, Australia, which scored 68 points in the paint against the Americans in a six- point friendly loss, got 20 points from Jock Lansdale and double figures from four others in a 92-80 win over Spain. Canada has 10 NBA players including Shai Gilgeous Alexander, Serbia has 2024 NBA MVP Nkola Jokic and Greece has Giannis Anetetokounmpo.
The field is so strong that host team France, with 7-4 NBA rookie phenom Victor Wembenyama. and Rudy Gobert, may not make the knockout round.
I’ve learned we’re beatable if we don’t execute the details of what teams know they have to do to beat us,” Curry said via USA Basketball’s Instagram page. “Which is extra possessions, not taking care of the ball, fouling too much. It has nothing to do with our offensive game. Obviously, Bron has been taking over in the fourth quarter, giving us a huge bump but we haven’t played our best offensive game yet.
“When we lock in defensively and rebound, nobody can really beat us. That’s how we’ve been coming back these last two games. Just execute the details and playing solid, hard-nosed basketball, we’ll be fine.”
