LeBron James Building Another Super Team for the 2024 Olympics
Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant and Joel Embiid to join James in the quest for Gold for Paris 2024.
(Ethan Miller via Getty Images)
NBA giant LeBron James already has his sights set on his next superteam. After not earning a medal in the 2023 FIBA World Cup, Team USA is different from the prestige of basketball it once was. Team USA Basketball is the standard of greatness, with four consecutive Olympic gold medals. Team USA’s embarrassing performance has called for NBA champion LeBron James to take matters into his own hands and commit to playing for Team USA in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.
At 38 and already medaling three times in past Olympic games, James wants next year’s Olympics to be a “last dance” with USA Basketball, sources said. Just like in Lebron’s NBA career, he has always relied on super teams, which consist of multiple NBA all-star caliber players on his team, to win. For James, the Olympics are no different, as has already started to recruit the best American players, such as Stephen Curry, Jayson Tatum, Kevin Durant, and Damian Lillard.
Immediately following USA’s loss to Canada in the @FIBAWC, LeBron James reportedly FaceTimed Draymond Green “visibly frustrated” begging that he and other American superstars team up with him to “make things right” for the 2024 Olympics in Paris. 👀
(via/TheDraymondGreenShow) pic.twitter.com/SP1bnT9hp9
— The Hoop Centrol (@TheHoopCentrol) September 11, 2023
The last time James won a gold medal was in 2012. James teamed up with more of the USA’s best players at the time, such as Kobe Bryant, Carmelo Anthony, and Kevin Durant—another team filled with the best NBA talent and best in the world.
For James and company, this may be the toughest Olympics yet. International competition has improved significantly over the years. Since 2018, only one American player has received the NBA’s Most Valuable Player award, James Harden. NBA superstars like Giannis Antetokounmpo, Luka Dončić, and this year’s NBA Final Champion, Nikola Jokić, are all set to represent their respective countries in next year’s games.
“World Champion of what…? The United States?” said US Sprinter Noah Lyles in an interview in reference to the players of the NBA Finals ChampionbDenver Nuggets Team calling themselves world champions, days before Team USA’s devastating defeat from Canada. Lyles’ comments sparked conversations and arguments worldwide between top NBA players and fans all over social media, with most agreeing that the best basketball talent is in the NBA.
After Noah Lyles said what he said about the US referring to the NBA winners as world champions, listen to Stephen Smith's response. United may be shit on the pitch, but we're still the biggest in England and top 3 in the world.
In the words of Davido, "no competition!" pic.twitter.com/quuX3HcjPY
— ηαтε (@Nattie_Best) September 18, 2023
The world will be tuned in to the Olympic Games in Paris next year to see if Team USA can redeem themselves and see if they can reach world champion status again. Lebron James once again has begun to assemble the ultimate Olympic super team.
Jason Sanford, (he/him) is from Atlanta but is a southeast-based journalist covering technology and culture.
Edited by Nykeya Woods