Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James shoots during pregame warmups before playing the Portland Trail Blazers at Staples Center. James along with the rest of the Lakers team wore jerseys with the number 8 or 24 to honor Kobe Bryant who died in a helicopter crash January 26, 2020. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports
Team USA suffered a disappointing FIBA World Cup finish after losing three of their final four games and being shut out from the podium. This has already led to a response from arguably the greatest player in Team USA’s history, LeBron James.
LeBron’s commitment to play in the 2024 Olympics at the age of 39 shows just how dedicated he is to Team USA. In fact, it mirrors NBA legend and former Olympic teammate Kobe Bryant’s dedication.
After 10 seasons in the NBA, Kobe agreed to join Team USA, giving them a 3-year commitment with the goal of winning a gold medal. Kobe did just that in 2008 and again in 2012, and LeBron has a chance to serve as the veteran leader of Team USA in much the same way that Kobe did during the 2008 Redeem Team.
LeBron can build upon Kobe’s legacy by showing a new generation how to win gold.
While the World Cup team was disappointing, a few players could join the 2020 Gold Medal team in Paris in 2024. With LeBron already stating that he plans to play in next year’s Olympics, Team USA should have no problem recruiting players, which should hopefully bode well for their chances.
Of course, the competition has dramatically improved in recent years, with the United States being beaten by Canada in the bronze medal game. That was thanks to the combined efforts of NBA players Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Dillon Brooks. Worse yet, many of the teams in the World Cup weren’t at full strength, with other NBA players opting to sit out. The U.S. will have to be far better next year if they hope to beat teams like Canada and France in the Olympics.
Ultimately, with LeBron already on board for the 2024 Olympics, he could follow Kobe’s lead by showing a new generation how to win gold. Even then, it’s far from a guarantee that Team USA will win it all, but like Kobe, LeBron appears up for the challenge.
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Author: Cal Durrett
September 12, 2023 | 12:00 pm
