Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James is preparing to chase another NBA title, but he also has his sights set on competing for another gold medal.
During Lakers media day on Monday, James confirmed to reporters He is interested in representing Team USA at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Last month, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst reported that James is among a group of NBA superstars with “strong interest” in joining Team USA for the 2024 Paris Olympics. Other players named as candidates to represent USA Basketball include Stephen Curry, who has yet to make his Olympic debut, as well as past gold medalists Anthony Davis, Kevin Durant, Jayson Tatum, Germany’s Vin Booker, Draymond Green and Chris Paul.
james tell reporters On Monday, he may not have to play a major role because of potential talent for next summer’s Olympics, where he just has to “bounce and pass the ball a little bit.”
The 38-year-old is a two-time gold medalist who won with Team USA at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and the 2012 London Olympics. He also won a bronze medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics. He declined to compete in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics and missed the 2020 Tokyo Olympics while resting his ankle.
James and other NBA stars became interested after Team USA failed to win a medal at the FIBA World Cup this summer. The team has a young roster and new head coach Steve Kerr, who takes over in 2021 after serving as an assistant coach to Gregg Popovich during the Tokyo Olympics Head coach.
It will be interesting to see how Team USA’s roster shapes up next summer, as James will likely join a group of star players.