LeBron James is adding another honor to his illustrious career: flag bearer for the United States of America at the opening ceremony of the Olympics.
LeBron James will be the first men’s basketball player to be selected as the flag bearer for the nation.
Leading the way for Team USA.
Two-time Olympic gold medalist @KingJames has been selected as our men’s flag bearer for the #ParisOlympics Opening Ceremony. pic.twitter.com/NN4NLWwwfc
— Team USA (@TeamUSA) July 22, 2024
On the verge of a stunning upset by South Sudan LeBron James delivered in the clutch. Rallying from a 16-point deficit, the USA team triumphed 101-100, with James scoring the game-winning basket with 8.0 seconds left.
South Sudan, ranked 33rd in the FIBA world rankings, jumped to an early lead thanks to Marial Shayok’s 24 points and six three-pointers. They were up 58-44 at halftime, while the top-ranked USA team struggled from deep, hitting just 1-of-12 three-pointers.
The Americans responded with a dominant 37-18 third quarter, fueled by a 16-0 run, to take a five-point lead into the final period. Despite maintaining their edge, South Sudan fought back, with JT Thor’s three-pointer giving them a 100-99 lead with 20 seconds remaining.
James then answered with a game-winning layup, and the USA’s defense held strong on South Sudan’s final possession to secure the win. James led the USA with 25 points, supported by Anthony Davis (15 pts, 11 rebounds), Joel Embiid (14 pts, 7 rebounds), Anthony Edwards (11 pts), and Steph Curry (10 pts).
LEBRON JAMES WINS IT FOR #USABMNT
pic.twitter.com/IHdQBZVB87
— NBA (@NBA) July 20, 2024
The victory improved the USA’s record to 4-0 in exhibition games this summer. They will conclude their showcase tour in London against Germany on Monday.
South Sudan, led by team president and NBA legend Luol Deng, will continue preparing for their first-ever Olympics, marking a significant rise in African basketball.
The post LeBron James Named USA’s Olympics Opening Ceremony Flag Bearer, a First for USA Basketball first appeared on The Source.
The post LeBron James Named USA’s Olympics Opening Ceremony Flag Bearer, a First for USA Basketball appeared first on The Source.