By Aris Barkas/ barkas@eurohoops.net
PARIS, France – Packing a gold medal for his efforts during the 2024 Olympic Games, LeBron James shared exciting predictions on future major international tournaments.
James, 39, discussed various topics after the gold medal game between the United States and France on Saturday.
“We are the global game. Everybody in the world loves the game,” the four-time NBA champion pointed out replying to a question about the challenges presented by Serbia and France in the Semifinal and Final, “There are so many more teams that are gonna continue to get better and better. Germany won the World Cup last year. So, the world is a basketball world, and everybody loves the game. We just hope that we continue to inspire people all over the world.”
MVP nod
James, 39, was named most valuable player of the tournament. Powering the United States to gold, he averaged 14.2 points, 8.5 assists, 6.8 rebounds, 1.3 steals, and 0.3 blocks per contest over six appearances between pool play in Lille and the knockout stage in Paris.
“We won. That is what is most important,” he commented on the individual award, “It is an honor. I do not know who the voting committee or whatever it is, but I am super humbled that they even voted for me. And it came with us winning gold.”
In the gold medal game, the Akron native posted a 14-point, 10-rebound double-double.
“It was great,” he talked about the home crowd naturally supporting France, “I think we would want to be able to face the host team. It was a great atmosphere.”
“Best one”
Bouncing back in the Olympic Games after 12 years, he collected a third gold medal following similar triumphs in 2008 and 2012. In 2004, he settled for bronze.
“This is the best one because it is the one that is right now,” he compared success with Team USA, “With the Redeem Team, we had to come back because we had a couple of years where we were not playing to our capabilities. And then in 12, we played some good ball as well, was able to win that in London.”
“We put this team together very fast,” he moved on to the current squad featuring Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, and more NBA superstars, “We did not like the way we played last summer, so we put together this team very fast. We had to come together in less than a month.”
Curry and Durant
Praising standout showings by Curry and Durant in the Final, LeBron all but reiterated the strength of the squad.
Curry, 36, produced half of his 24 points from beyond the arc down the stretch, putting the USA into a safe distance. “You just simply marvel and it is amazing,” mentioned James, “I have seen it before, from the opposite side. To have them on your side. You just try to get stops and figure out other ways on the other end, but keep finding him, keep getting him the ball.”
Durant, 35, added 15 points. “You just look at his silhouette, you look at his skill. He is one of the best basketball players you have ever seen play the game of basketball,” said James, “His talent is out of this world.”
“Living in the moment”
Following the Olympics, the next step is preparing for the 2024-25 Regular Season and suiting up for the Los Angeles Lakers with his son Bronny on the squad.
“I am just living in the moment,” he stressed, “Super humbled that I could still play this game, play it at a high level, play with 11 other great players and great coaching staff, and then go out and do it for our country. Great moments.”
Photo Credit: FIBA