LeBron James and the rest of Team USA Basketball have been preparing for the upcoming 2024 Paris Olympic Games later this month. But on Friday, James addressed his future on the team with a somewhat expected statement.
At 39 years of age, there are obvious questions regarding how much longer James continue on in the NBA. He has expressed interest in playing with his son, Bronny James, and recently signed a two-year contract extension with the Los Angeles Lakers.
However, his future will seemingly not go much longer than his two-year contract in Los Angeles. When asked about possibly playing in the 2028 Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles, James said that he “won’t be there”.
Last dance at the Olympics for LeBron this year. 💪 pic.twitter.com/IH6tNm1XMe
— theScore (@theScore) July 12, 2024
Again, considering his age and all of the years he has spent in the NBA, this decision makes sense.
This brings one of the most extensive international careers in recent memory to an end. James first competed in the Olympics in 2004, just one year after being selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers with the first overall pick in the 2003 NBA Draft.
This decision by James makes the upcoming Olympics later this month even more substantial for Team USA and James individually.
James and the rest of Team USA recently got a tough test in their first Olympics exhibition game against Canada, defeating the team led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jamal Murray 86-72.
About Reice Shipley
Reice Shipley is a staff writer for Comeback Media that graduated from Ithaca College with a degree in Sports Media. He previously worked at Barrett Sports Media and is a fan of all things Syracuse sports.