LeBron James, a star player for the Los Angeles Lakers, has been chosen as the male flag bearer for Team USA at the upcoming Olympics. The opening ceremony is scheduled for Friday evening in Paris, as announced by officials on Monday. It is expected that a female flag bearer will also be announced later this week.
James becomes the first men’s basketball player to carry the flag for Team USA. In previous Olympics, speed skater Brittany Bowe and curler John Shuster were the flag bearers for Team USA at the 2022 Winter Olympics, while baseball player Eddy Alvarez and basketball player Sue Bird carried the flag at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.
James made his debut for Team USA at the Olympics in 2004, where the team had a disappointing showing but managed to win a bronze medal. He later returned to the Olympic roster in 2008 as part of the “Redeem Team,” winning a gold medal. In the following Olympics, he repeated as a gold medalist.
After participating in three consecutive Summer Olympics, James opted to sit out the 2016 and 2020 Games, both of which Team USA won gold without him. The U.S. is heavily favored to win a fifth straight gold medal in the upcoming 2024 men’s basketball tournament, although they may face tough competition from teams like Serbia, Canada, France, and Germany.
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