LONDON, England — LeBron James was selected as Team USA’s male flag bearer for the Opening Ceremony of the Paris Olympics. It’s a historical outcome, considering he will become the first men’s basketball player in the nation’s history to fulfill this honor.

“We are thrilled to announce LeBron James as one of two flag bearers who will lead Team USA in the Opening Ceremony and officially open the Paris 2024 Games,” USOPC CEO Sarah Hirshland said in a statement on Monday.

The Opening Ceremony will take place on Friday on the Seine River. It will start at 7:30 local time in France (1:30 p.m. EDT) and be broadcast live on NBC. The host country, France, will be the last boat in the parade, with the Americans being second-to-last as hosts of the upcoming Olympic Games in 2028, which are set to be held in Los Angeles.

A lot of consideration goes into the selection of the flag bearer, making it such a significant honor to be a recipient.

LeBron James receives “tremendous honor” voted on by Team USA peers

A vote is made to choose the flag bearer among Team USA athletes led by the Team USA Athletes’ Commission. Only 350 of the 592 athletes named to the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team will participate in the Opening Ceremony.

“Being selected by your teammates to carry the flag is a tremendous honor—and a testament to LeBron’s passion for Team USA and his dedication to his sport,” Hirshland added. “We will watch with great pride as the flag bearers lead our athletes, who are about to embark on a remarkable journey together.”  

James becomes the third basketball player in Team USA history to be selected as flag bearer, including five-time Olympic champion Sue Bird (2020) and Dawn Staley (2004) on the women’s team.

As a three-time Olympian, James has contributed significantly to Team USA over the years, including being a prominent recruiting presence for the 2024 squad following the program’s shortcomings in the FIBA World Cup without basketball’s top stars participating as Germany took the gold medal.

Just a ‘kid from Akron’ appreciates the Team USA recognition

As the NBA’s all-time scoring leader who has won four NBA titles and is a four-time NBA MVP, James has achieved so much in his professional basketball career, spanning 20 years between his time with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, and Los Angeles Lakers. James, 39, made his Olympic Games debut in 2004, winning the bronze medal as a 19-year-old.

“It’s an incredible honor to represent the United States on this global stage, especially in a moment that can bring the whole world together,” James said in a statement on Monday.

James takes pride in the inspiration he can bring to members of his hometown of Akron and throughout the United States. “For a kid from Akron, this responsibility means everything to not only myself but to my family, all the kids in my hometown, my teammates, fellow Olympians, and so many people across the country with big aspirations,” James expressed. “Sports have the power to bring us all together, and I’m proud to be a part of this important moment.”

It won’t be easy for Team USA to win a gold medal against a loaded, competitive field in France. Many of basketball’s top talents, including multi-time NBA MVP winners Nikola Jokić with Serbia and Giannis Antetokounmpo with Greece, participated with their national teams. It cannot be overlooked that rising superstar Victor Wembanyama is teamed up with four-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert with France.

If James can help guide Team USA to yet another gold medal, it’ll be another awe-inspiring achievement in his illustrious career. He’s already hinted that it’ll be his final time competing with the program despite the games being held in Los Angeles, where he has made his home with the Lakers.

Preparation Process Continues for LeBron James and Team USA

Team USA will face Germany for a final exhibition game at 02 Arena in London before departing for France. The first performance of a two-game series at the USA Basketball Showcase in London involved a 101-100 victory over South Sudan. James provided 23 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists, along with a game-winning layup on a drive after Team USA had overcome a 16-point deficit earlier in the game.

With limited preparation time, James emphasized the need for the group to maximize what little time they have at their disposal to build chemistry and a rhythm. “We do not have a lot of time to continue to not take a step forward,” he said after Saturday’s game against South Sudan. “It doesn’t matter when it comes to how close the game is and whatnot. Did we get better? I felt like in the first half, we allowed ’em to get comfortable. They started hitting 3s, and then in the second half, we played our style of basketball.”

The first match of the Group Phase will be against Jokić’s Serbian squad in Lille on July 28th. Both teams faced off in a recent friendly in Abu Dhabi, with Team USA winning 107-79.