This is going to be a very special Olympics for LeBron James. As the majority of NBA fans should know by now, King James and several of the top players in the league have joined forces to represent Team USA in the upcoming 2024 Paris Olympics.
While that alone is nothing special, it was recently revealed that LeBron was selected to be the flag bearer for the United States. To those who might not be aware, all the athletes march in groups led by their respective flag bearers.
Being chosen to represent the entire international sports domain for the United States is a rare honor and one that even Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan never received.
King James is the third basketball player to be given this honor
It might surprise some fans to hear that LeBron is the first ever NBA player to be chosen to represent the country as the flag bearer for the Olympics. However, he is not the first basketball player. WNBA stars Sue Bird and Dawn Staley were also given the same honor.
LeBron has been voted to carry Team USA’s flag at the opening ceremony of the Olympics.
No men’s basketball player has ever done it. ๐๐บ๐ธ pic.twitter.com/Z8Ed0svYZY
โ Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) July 22, 2024
Sue Bird is considered by many to be the greatest WNBA star in the history of the league. She was a 13x WNBA All-Star and 4x WNBA champion. She is best known for her time with the Seattle Storm. Although Sue is currently retired, she was at the backend of her career in 2020, much like LeBron James, when she was chosen as the flag bearer for the United States.
Another WNBA star who was given the chance to lead the country’s athletes was Dawn Staley. She spent her career with the Charlotte Sting and Houston Comets. Although Dawn never managed to win a championship, she found a great deal of success internationally and even went on to become a coach.
LeBron James is the third basketball player to be given this honor and the first from the NBA. Upon hearing that he was chosen, the Lakers star said that he was aware of the honor and prestige that goes with the position of flag bearer.
โI hold that with the utmost honor.โ @KingJames on being selected the USA menโs flag bearer for #ParisOlympics Opening Ceremony ๐บ๐ธpic.twitter.com/BlVH1W7mZC
โ NBA (@NBA) July 22, 2024
Given that LeBron James is in the final stages of his career, the majority of basketball fans are glad to see that he is being given a great deal of respect. The only question remaining is whether he will be able to lead Team USA towards winning the gold medal in the Olympics once again.