Unless you’ve been living in a sports news cave, you’ve probably heard that Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James has been selected to carry the flag for Team USA at the Paris Olympics.
This is a great honor as each country selects an individual to represent an entire nation.
And for the United States of America, there is no better representative than the boy from Akron.
James represents the American dream.
Born and raised by a single mother, James was able to overcome the odds and adversities with determination and hard work. Sure, being a naturally gifted athlete helped him make a seamless transition from St. Vincent-St. Mary High School to the NBA’s brightest star, but James has been in the spotlight since he was a teenager.
At some point, the temptation had to be there to take his foot off the gas. At some point, he could have turned toward trouble or controversy, especially with the social pressures of growing up in Akron. The young man who had to move away with his youth football coach because of his own unstable environment is now a self-made billionaire.
He is arguably the greatest basketball player of all time. He has four NBA titles, four MVPs, 20 NBA All-Star appearances, and is a two-time Olympic gold medalist.
And at almost 40 years old, he is representing his country ahead of the Olympics because he represents everything we should stand for.
James is not just the face of the NBA. He is the face of American sports.
This US men’s basketball team is packed with young talent at their peak.
Remember when everyone was talking about Anthony Edwards during the NBA Playoffs? How about reigning NBA champion Jayson Tatum, who tries to emulate the late, great Kobe Bryant at every turn?
It’s old James who’s carrying these young cats. James saved Team USA from what could have been one of the biggest upsets in basketball history, where they barely beat South Sudan as 43-point favorites.
Soon after being named Team USA’s standard bearer, James rescued Team USA again, rescuing them to victory against Germany.
On the hardwood, it may be tough for Team USA to reach the gold. James joining this young core, Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant may be the closest thing this generation gets to a Dream Team. But even head coach Steve Kerr admitted that the gap has narrowed for USA Basketball.
Regardless of what happens between the lines when the 2024 Paris Olympics begin, Team USA can rest assured knowing that James is a fitting representative for our country’s athletics.
