LeBron James – The man once mockingly referred to as “LeBronze” following some disappointing some initial international experiences says he wants to add to his gold medal collection.
NBA star LeBron James says he’s all in and would relish the opportunity to wear the red, white and blue for the third consecutive Olympics when the Rio Games come around in 2016. James, who was the best player on the American team that won the gold medal at the recently completed London Olympics, will be 31 by the time the next Olympiad arrives, but said he would relish the opportunity to again represent his country.
James has yet to formally notify USA Basketball of his intentions, but there will always be room on any U.S. team for the unquestioned best player in the world.
The London Olympics were the year’s coup-de-grace for James, who joined some rarified air when he followed icon Michael Jordan as the only players to ever be named the league MVP and win NBA and Olympic championships in the same year.
It was the second consecutive gold medal for James, who had helped lead Team USA to gold at the Beijing Games in 2008. His last two experiences marked a far cry from his first in the 2004 Athens Games and the subsequent 2006 World Championships that saw the U.S. finish a disappointing third on both occasions.
James was unstoppable in London, averaging 16.3 points, 4.8 rebounds and a team-high 5.6 assists. He totaled 19 points on 8-of-13 shooting while adding seven boards and a team-best four assists in the gold medal victory over Spain. He was even more spectacular in the days before, registering the first triple double in U.S. Olympic history with 11 points, 14 rebounds and 12 assists in the quarterfinal victory over Australia.
