LeBron James at 39 still is the center of attention for USA Basketball. That won't change in Paris
U.S. Olympic men's basketball team took the floor for warmups before an exhibition game in Abu Dhabi: Stephen Curry opened with a layup, followed by ones from Tyrese Haliburton, Anthony Edwards and Derrick White, and then a short jumper from Devin Booker.
All were met with some cheers. And then LeBron James got the ball in his hands. The crowd got louder immediately, the volume rising until his dunk was met with the loudest roar the arena could muster.
«He's still LeBron,» U.S. assistant coach Erik Spoelstra said.
At 39 years old, starting the 22nd season of his pro career, the all-time leader in NBA points, soon to become the first men's player to represent the U.S. at the Olympic Games in three different decades, he's still LeBron. And that's why USA Basketball so badly wanted him on this team that's headed to the Paris Olympics later this month, because there is no question that he makes the team even more of a favorite for what would be a fifth consecutive gold medal.
«Listen, once I got the clearance from Savannah James, that's the one I had to get the clearance from to give up my summer pretty much to play basketball at 39 years old,» James said, referring to his wife. «Once I got the clearance from her, I didn't have to have much convincing.»
Not after last summer, that is.
James watched the U.S. World Cup team — another team with 12 NBA players, but not 12 players with the pedigree of those on this Olympic roster — struggle last summer in the Philippines and end up with a fourth-place finish. He didn't
