Unless you’ve been living under a rock in the world of sports news, you’ve probably heard that Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James has been selected to carry the U.S. flag at the Paris Olympics.
It is a very honorable occasion as each country selects one individual to represent the entire country.
And there’s no one better suited to represent America than a kid from Akron.
James represents the American dream.
Born and raised by a single mother, James overcame adversity and hard work with determination. Of course, being a naturally gifted athlete helped him transition smoothly from St. Vincent-St. Mary High School to one of the NBA’s brightest stars, but James was thrust into the spotlight as a teenager.
At some point, there must have been a temptation to not step on the gas pedal. At some point, it could have turned into trouble or controversy, especially with the social pressures of growing up in Akron. The young boy who had to move in with a youth football coach because of his unstable environment is now a billionaire in his own right.
He is arguably the greatest basketball player of all time. He has won four NBA titles, four MVP awards, been a 20-time NBA All-Star, and is already a two-time Olympic gold medalist.
And he’s almost 40 years old and he’s representing his country at the Olympics because he represents everything we represent.
James is not only the face of the NBA, he is the face of American sports.
The U.S. men’s national basketball team is full of young, promising players in their prime.
Remember when everyone was hyping Anthony Edwards during the NBA playoffs? How about NBA champion Jayson Tatum trying to emulate the late, great Kobe Bryant at every turn?
It’s old James who’s holding these kittens. James saved Team USA from what could have been one of the biggest upsets in basketball history, as they narrowly beat South Sudan by 43 points.
Shortly after being named the U.S. national team’s flag bearer, James again saved the team’s victory over Germany.
It may be difficult for Team USA to win gold on the hardwood. Teaming up with this young core of Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant, James could be the closest this generation gets to a Dream Team. But even coach Steve Kerr admits that USA Basketball’s gap has narrowed.
No matter what happens between the four lines when the 2024 Paris Olympics begin, Team USA can rest assured that James is a healthy representative of our nation’s track and field team.
