LeBron James not only has a historic career in the NBA, but he’s also a decorated Olympian. Over the course of his basketball career, he has won three gold medals representing Team USA.
The only men’s player with more is Kevin Durant, who has four. There’s been a lot of speculation regarding whether or not James is going to retire from basketball this offseason. It looks like there’s a good chance that he’ll be back with the Los Angeles Lakers, but fans of the Olympics are going to be disappointed.
James recently decided to reveal that he’s likely done representing Team USA going forward, and won’t be playing at the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
“Nothing has changed. Where we at, man, 2025 right now?” James told The Hollywood Reporter. “Nah, nothing has changed. I mean, if I had to look at it right now through a microscope, I would say that, me being able to support Team USA for the rest of my life — that’s for sure. But me actually going on and playing, I don’t see it happening.
“I’ve given everything that I have, and I will always be appreciative and loyal and dedicated to Team USA and USA Basketball.”
He would certainly be a huge draw in Los Angeles due to his Lakers career, but he’ll be 43 by the time the next Summer Olympics start. It’s time to let the younger American players represent the country.
Other Older Icons May Not Play in 2028
James isn’t the only older superstar who might age out of the Olympics by 2028. Steph Curry will be 40 and Kevin Durant will be 39. There’s a very good chance that neither of them will want to play.
It could be tough to say no since it will be in America, but there’s at least a chance that some of the basketball icons we’ve seen on Team USA for a long time won’t be back.
James Doesn’t Understand Obsession With Ring Counting
In many ways, James is the greatest basketball player ever. He’s the all-time leading scorer in NBA history and holds a litany of other records.
The only knock on him is that he hasn’t won enough championships. He’s won four, but that’s fewer than NBA legends like Kobe Bryant (5) or Michael Jordan (6).
James personally doesn’t think that rings should dominate the greatest of all time conversation.
“I don’t know why it’s discussed so much in our sport and why it’s the end-all, be-all of everything,” James said on the “Mind the Game” podcast. “Like OK, ‘You weren’t a great player [because] you never won a championship.’ Or if you won one, you can’t be in the same conversation with this person. … You sit here and tell me Allen Iverson and Charles Barkley and Steve Nash f—ing weren’t unbelievable?
“Like, ‘Oh, they can’t be talked about or discussed with these guys because this guy won one ring, or won two rings.’ It’s just weird to me.”
That’s a sentiment that many will agree with, but plenty of others would disagree with. Unless he wins two more rings before he retires, it’ll be difficult to convince Jordan fans that James is greater.
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