LeBron James Makes History Before USA Basketball’s First Olympic Game in Paris.
The USA basketball team has yet to take the court in Paris, but LeBron James has already made history. The Los Angeles Lakers star was chosen by his fellow athletes, along with tennis sensation Coco Gauff, to represent them as flag-bearers. Despite his age of 39, James continues to demonstrate his elite playmaking skills, recently rescuing Team USA in two exhibition games ahead of the Olympics.
James’ historic feat is not related to his age, though at 39, he remains younger than Team USA’s oldest flag-bearer, Ralph Craig, who carried the flag at 59 in 1948. Instead, James has become the first men’s basketball player to hoist the flag for Team USA. This milestone was witnessed on Friday as James led the United States’ boat across the Seine in Paris.
The selection process saw James nominated by fellow basketball star Steph Curry. “I think LeBron’s entire career, on and off the court, speaks for itself as him being worthy of that honour,” Curry told NBC.
James and the men’s basketball team will begin their group play against Serbia this weekend, a rematch of one of their exhibition games prior to heading to Paris. James is aiming for his third Olympic gold medal.
