The practice of carrying flags into the opening ceremony began at the 1908 Summer Games (London) and it will continue. This time LeBron James was chosen to represent Team USA during the opening ceremony on the River Seine. What’s so special about this? He will be the first male American basketball player ever to carry the flag. This milestone comes as a crowning achievement, mirroring Simone Biles’ historic moment.

While Biles made headlines as a flag bearer at just 19, it has taken LeBron James – who missed the last two Olympics – years of dedication to reach this honor at 39.

Well, Simone Biles is now 27, but at the Rio 2016 Games, she truly stole the spotlight, winning gold medals in the all-around, vault, and floor exercise, along with a bronze on the balance beam. This performance made her the fifth female gymnast to win four gold medals at a single Olympics.

No doubt, she was chosen to carry the flag at the closing ceremony. What’s interesting is that, since 1936, she was the first gymnast to be chosen for a closing ceremony. That’s an 80-year gap.

U.S Olympic Team flag bearers since 1984: Closing Ceremony

• 1984: Jeff Blatnick, Wresting
• 1988: Terry Schroeder, Water Polo
• 1992: Peter Westbrook, Fencing
• 1996: Michael Matz, Equestrian
• 2000: Rulon Gardner, Wrestling
• 2004: Mia Hamm, Soccer
• 2008: Khatuna Lorig, Archery
• 2012: Bryshon Nellum, Track and Field
• 2016: Simone Biles, Gymnastics

LeBron James, who is headed to his fourth and likely final Games, shared his thoughts after being selected to carry the flag at the Paris Olympics. “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.”

Additionally, a female flag bearer will join James. The name will be announced on Tuesday.

Interesting Fact: At the Tokyo Olympics, American basketball player Sue Bird was the flag-bearer for the opening ceremony. Before her, Dawn Staley was the flag-bearer at 2004 Athens.

However, James’s shared honor with Biles is just one of the striking parallels observed between these two sports icons. He also has deep admiration for her. Why else would be call her great?

LeBron James hailed Simone Biles as a true champion!

On July 10, in an interview with ESPN, LeBron James made his admiration for Simone Biles abundantly clear, declaring her the best in her field. He praised Biles, stating, “She’s the best. It’s that simple. She’s the best. She’s an inspiration to my daughter and to all… if you love greatness,” the NBA legend expressed.

Biles responded by reposting his comments on her Instagram stories. While she didn’t add a caption, her gesture spoke volumes about her appreciation of James’s sentiment. But did you know Biles even spent time with the NBA champ back in 2016?

That year, the gymnastics star made an appearance at a Cleveland Cavaliers game, where she got to hang out with LeBron James. The two Olympic gold medalists also posed for a few photos during the game. At 4 feet 8 inches, Simone appeared to be half of LeBron’s size—though, in reality, she’s only two feet shorter than him, as he stands at 6’9″.

This encounter revealed that these two were not just passing acquaintances, but genuine supporters of each other. Now, both are shining examples of American greatness, each making waves as they aim for gold on the Olympic stage.

On July 26, the Opening Ceremony is scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. local time. Are you excited for the Olympics?