Unless you’ve been living under a rock in the sports news world, 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.
It is a great honor, because each country selects one individual to represent an entire nation.
And for the United States of America, there is no better representative than the kid from Akron.
James represents the American dream.
Born and raised by a single mother, James has overcome obstacles and adversity through determination and hard work. Sure, his natural athletic talent helped him seamlessly transition from St. Vincent-St. Mary’s High School to the NBA’s biggest star, but James has been in the spotlight since he was a teenager.
At some point, he must have been tempted to take his foot off the gas. At some point, he could have found himself in trouble or controversy, especially with the social pressures of growing up in Akron. The young boy who had to move in with his American 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 won four NBA titles, four MVP awards, 20 NBA All-Star appearances and has already won two Olympic gold medals.
And at almost 40 years old, he’s representing his country before the Olympics because he represents everything we’re supposed to stand for.
James is not only the face of the NBA, he is also the face of American sports.
This United States men’s basketball team is full of young, fresh talent in their prime.
Remember when everyone was raving about Anthony Edwards during the NBA playoffs? And what about reigning NBA champion Jayson Tatum, who is trying to emulate the late, great Kobe Bryant at every turn?
It’s old James carrying these young cats. James saved Team USA from what could have been one of the greatest upsets in basketball history, where they narrowly beat South Sudan as favourites with a 43-point lead.
Right after being named Team USA’s flag bearer, James saved Team USA again, save the team to victory against Germany.
On the court, it could be tough for Team USA to win gold. James, teaming up with that young core of Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant, could be the closest thing to a Dream Team this generation has. But even the head coach Steve Kerr admitted the gap has narrowed for USA Basketball.
No matter what happens between the four lines once the 2024 Paris Olympics begin, Team USA can rest easy knowing that James is a fit representative of our nation’s athletics.
