It’s hard to believe it’s been nearly 20 years since team executive Jerry Colangelo and coach Mike Krzyzewski approached LeBron James with a simple yet colossal challenge: Make America Great Again in basketball.
The nation that dominated Olympic basketball upon its introduction in 1936, that won every game it played until the 1972 Soviet Union team had three chances to steal the gold medal in Munich, that reinvented the sport internationally with the introduction of the Dream Team in 1992, had fallen into complete disrepair by the early 1920s.street century.
At the 2002 FIBA World Cup, held in Indianapolis, the heart of basketball in the country, the United States finished sixth. At the Olympic Games in Greece two years later, they lost three times, accounting for half of the defeats in the national team’s history at the Games. James agreed to be part of that team, but was only allowed 11 minutes of playing time per game.
After such an experience, James would have had many reasons to reject another opportunity to wear the American flag on his chest.
Except for one thing: it’s LeBron James.
Of course he said yes. And, of course, he did it, brilliantly. And, despite being 39 years old, he’s done it again. And that’s just one of the many reasons why his fellow American athletes have magnificently chosen him to carry the American flag on Friday at the opening ceremony in Paris.
LeBron James becomes the first male basketball player to be named Team USA’s flag bearer at the Olympics ?
“For a kid from Akron, this responsibility means everything, not just to me, but to my family, all the kids in my hometown, my teammates, my Olympic teammates, etc…. image.twitter.com/TqqD9hYKQf
— Jugo Mobile (@sportingnews) July 22, 2024
James said it was an “incredible honor” to be chosen by his fellow Olympians. “This responsibility means everything,” he said, suggesting he will take it on for all those across the country “with high aspirations.” His dedication to his sport and his American roots have brought him to this prominent position.
James will be one of two U.S. flag bearers at the Games, the second of which will be announced Tuesday. In the statement announcing his selection, James gave no description of his difficult beginnings in Akron, hinting at how far he has come from there to his current position: Olympic gold medalist, All-Star, NBA champion, billionaire.
“Sports have the power to unite us all,” he said, “and I am proud to be a part of this important moment.”
James has been the ideal 21streetAthlete of the 21st century. He is an elite player who has won four NBA championships, led his team to the NBA Finals 10 times and won 20 All-NBA awards. He has scored more points than anyone in history and ranks behind only three others in assists. He has been league MVP and Finals MVP four times each.
James has been on the public stage since 2001, when he shared his wealth of athletic talents with attendees at the ABCD Camp in New Jersey and made it clear that he could match up with the sport’s best players. In all that time, there has been no scandal, incident or drama bigger than “The Decision,” the over-the-top televised announcement of his departure as a free agent from the Cavaliers to the Heat. And even that raised money for charity. He has been with the same woman, Savannah, since they met during James’ time at St. Vincent-St. Mary High in Akron and have been married since 2013. They have raised three children together.
James has played 54 times for his country since agreeing to become the most important part of the Redeem Team effort. Tray at the end of the match against South Sudan In a surprisingly tough showing Saturday, USA Basketball’s record in those games improved to 53-1, including gold medals at the 2008 and 2012 Olympics.
James has been actively involved in his efforts to improve the world and the country. The LeBron James Foundation was founded in 2004, beginning with the distribution of bicycles and backpacks to underprivileged youth and growing to form a public elementary school in Akron, the I PROMISE School, which serves at-risk children in grades 1-8 and also provides resources to their families, such as instruction in financial literacy, mental health and legal assistance, and instruction to help those without a high school diploma obtain a GED.
She has not been afraid to step forward in times of controversy, including her public defense of New York resident Eric Garner in 2014 and Louisville resident Breonna Taylor in 2020, both of whom died at the hands of police force that led to changes in regulations, the firing of officers and multimillion-dollar legal settlements for their families.
“If I feel like it’s important to me, I’ll respond,” James told Sports Illustrated in 2014. “If it’s not, I don’t. There are a lot of things I haven’t talked about. For me, it’s about knowledge and a gut feeling that gets to your heart. You feel it and you act on it.”
James did not play in either the 2016 or 2020 Olympics, which the U.S. won without him, and simply accepting an invitation this time automatically made him the oldest player to make the U.S. men’s basketball roster for the Games. Why is he here?
“At this point in my career, I still have a lot to give, and Team USA has given me a lot,” James told the Today Show. “So I feel like it’s an opportunity to give back.”
She has given much throughout her career. Now, her teammates on the U.S. Olympic team have given her an honor that may be impossible to top. She will sail a boat down the Seine carrying the Stars and Stripes flag and past the Eiffel Tower. It is an image that should thrill all Americans.
