Paris Olympics: back for a fourth Games, LeBron James says gold is all that matters
- LeBron James is attempting to become the first US men’s basketball player to play at an Olympics in three different decades
He first played on the US Olympic team as a 19-year-old. He did it again in his 20s, twice. And now, a few months from turning 40, he is back for one more run.
LeBron James did not need another Olympic experience to complete some missing box on his resume or add to a legacy that was secured long, long ago. He decided to play this summer for one simple reason – because he wants to.
Taking his first steps toward becoming the first US men’s basketball player to compete at the Olympics in three different decades, James hit the floor on Saturday with the team the Americans are sending to the Paris Games later this month.
Training camp opened in Las Vegas, the start of a 5½-week quest where the only acceptable ending will be the US winning gold for a fifth consecutive time.
“I’m still playing a high level,” James, who has won two gold medals and a bronze, said. “I still love the game of basketball. And Team USA has done well by me, so I felt like it was important for this summer to be able to go out there and play with the rest of the guys.”
The first practice came on a day of another first for the James family; the workout in Las Vegas was simultaneous to the Los Angeles Lakers’ first game in the California Classic summer league – the pro debut of Bronny James, the son of the NBA’s all-time scoring leader.