If you don’t keep up with the world of sports news, you’ve probably heard that Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James was selected to carry Team USA’s flag for the Paris Olympics.
This is a great honor, because Each country selects one person To represent an entire nation.
And for the United States, there is no better representative than this kid from Akron.
James is the epitome of the American dream.
Born and raised by a single mother, James was able to overcome obstacles and adversity with his hard work and determination. Of course, being a naturally talented athlete helped him make a seamless transition from St. Vincent-St. Mary High School to the NBA’s brightest star, but James has been in the spotlight since he was a teenager.
At some point, he would have been tempted to slow down. At some point, he would have gotten into trouble or controversy, especially with the social pressures of growing up in Akron. The young boy who had to live with his youth football coach because of his unstable environment is now a self-made billionaire.
He is arguably the greatest basketball player of all time. He has four NBA titles, four MVPs, 20 NBA All-Star appearances and he is already a two-time Olympic gold medalist.
And at nearly 40 years old, he’s representing his country ahead of the Olympics, because he represents everything we should stand for.
James isn’t just the face of the NBA. He’s the face of American sports.
This Team USA men’s basketball team is loaded with young, fresh talent at its peak.
Remember when everyone was praising Anthony Edwards during the NBA playoffs? How about defending NBA champion Jayson Tatum, who tries to imitate the late great Kobe Bryant at every opportunity?
It’s old man James who is carrying these young cats. James saved Team USA from one of the biggest upsets in basketball history, where they barely beat South Sudan as 43-point favorites.
Shortly after being named Team USA’s flag bearer, James saved Team USA once again and led them to a win against Germany.
On the hardwood, it may be difficult for Team USA to win a gold medal. James could team up with this young nucleus, Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant, to form what may be the closest thing to a dream team this generation has. But even head coach Steve Kerr admits the gap has narrowed for USA Basketball.
Regardless of what happens between the four lines once the 2024 Paris Olympics begin, Team USA can rest assured knowing that James is a fitting representative for our country’s athletics.
