LeBron James is playing for Team USA in the Paris Olympics, but he'll be 40 years old in December. So, no, he won't be back four years from now, when Team USA next takes the court for the Games.
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No less than James himself confirmed as much. The 2028 Games, by the way, will be held in Los Angeles, where James currently lives as the face of the Lakers.
"No, I won't be there," LeBron told the Today show's Craig Melvin. "I'm getting the hell out of that city when the Olympics come to Los Angeles [laugh]. All right, I'll live there all year. I will not be in Los Angeles in '28. I'm getting out of there."
James is the oldest player in the NBA and a two-time Olympic gold medalist (2008 and '12).
He averaged 25.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, 8.3 assists, 1.3 steals and 0.5 blocks for the Lakers in 71 games this past season, shooting 54.0% from the field, 41.0% from beyond the arc and 75.0% from the free-throw line.
A four-time MVP, a four-time Finals MVP and a four-time champion, James has little else left to accomplish. Probably just another gold medal — unless the Lakers suddenly get their act together and build a title-contending roster.
A future first-ballot Hall of Famer, James has career averages of 27.1 points, 7.5 rebounds, 7.4 assists, 1.5 steals and 0.7 blocks with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat and Lakers.
For the record, was voted the top national team player in camp in a straw poll of Olympic camp participants conducted by Sam Amick and Joe Vardon of The Athletic.
"That's what I told my brother after the first day, I was like dude's 40 and he's the best player on the court," Houston Rockets wing Amen Thompson said.
"You feel and see his presence on the court," Orlando Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley said. "You see exactly what he's doing, the way he's communicating, the way he's talking, getting guys in position. There's a level of focus on the seriousness of understanding the moment that he just continues to show."
