Why Was LeBron James Selected as USA’s Flag Bearer for Paris Olympics? How Is the Selection Process Done?

L.A. Lakers star and three-time Olympic medalist LeBron James will bear the flag for Team USA during the Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony. The 39-year-old will become the first male basketball athlete to bear the flag and only the third basketballer to do so. However, the 4x NBA champion didn’t get this opportunity because he making his Olympics return after a decade.

Several factors come into play when each delegation chooses their flag bearer. For the 20× NBA All-Star, it all came down to a vote. James’ journey to becoming the flag bearer began when fellow NBA icon Stephen Curry supported the power forward’s nomination. “Being selected by your teammates to carry the flag is a tremendous honor,” U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee CEO Sarah Hirshland said while announcing the nomination.

The honor of bearing the men’s team’s flag is “a testament to LeBron’s passion for Team USA and his dedication to his sport,” added Hirshland. The 2x Olympic gold medalist felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude after learning the news. James is currently in London where Team USA will play their last Pre-Paris Olympics exhibition game with Germany on Monday.

“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,” said the NBA star. LeBron James is grateful to know that his teammates chose him as their representative. That’s because in many countries the NOC picks the candidate.

However, LeBron James’ career and achievements certainly played a role in his nomination being accepted. Besides regularly being part of the NBA GOAT conversation, James has helped Team USA earn two golds and a bronze in the Olympics. He was also part of the bronze-winning 2006 FIBA World Championship team. The flag-bearer selection process isn’t dissimilar to how Olympic torch-bearers were chosen in May.

How the Paris Olympics chose its torch bearers

The organizers chose around 10,000 people to carry the torch when it arrived in France in May. The Olympic torch relay started at the southern city port of Marseille, and these 10,000 individuals carried the torch on its journey across the entire nation before it arrived in Paris. Not every one of the thousands who carried the torch needed to be someone of LeBron James’ caliber. Yet, the selection process was no less complex.

The Paris Olympics organizers selected the torch bearers with three core tenets in mind. The first was those who embodied the spirit of the Games, including everyone from professionals to volunteers who’ll work tirelessly during the event. The second and third core tenets involved “community” and “the collective”, from everyone who symbolized their nation’s sense of excellence to those who are working to make society inclusive, fairer, and sustainable.

“Sports have the power to bring us all together,” LeBron James said today. So whether it’s the flag bearers, troch bears, or athletes, everyone associated with the Olympics embodies this sentiment.