LeBron James arrives at Team USA basketball camp ahead of Olympics (2024)

LeBron James has joined forces with several other NBA stars in Las Vegas for Team USA's basketball camp more than a decade since his last appearance at the Summer Olympics.

The 39-year-old Lakers forward was all smiles when he arrived in a conference room at a hotel in Sin City, where the likes of Kevin Durant, Steph Curry, Bam Adebayo and Anthony Edwards greeted him along with coaches Ty Lue and Steve Kerr.

Anthony Davis - James' club teammate - also dapped up the four-time NBA champion despite James joking to others that he wants to have a good summer but can't now after seeing the Lakers center.


James' arrival comes two days after most players technically arrived for camp. Curry was the first to check in, perhaps underscoring how anxious he is for what will be his first Olympics.

The 12 players have all known each other for years, but the task of becoming a team starts in earnest Saturday.

LeBron James, 39, finally showed up to Team USA basketball's camp in Las Vegas on Saturday

Anthony Davis reunited with his teammate as they get ready for their first Olympics together

'I feel like it starts when it gets there, because that's when you really see each other eye-to-eye,' said Bam Adebayo, who is seeking his second gold medal after winning one at the Tokyo Games three years ago.

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'You have those conversations, you have those many conversations within what we're going through, what we're trying to do. And that's when it's time to really be honest about what we want to do.'

That part is easy: Win gold. The how-to-do-it part, that's the key.

Last year brought another humbling World Cup experience for the US; after finishing seventh in 2019, the Americans were fourth at Manila.

But the argument - or justification, for lack of a better word - for those stumbles was that the US wasn't sending the best possible roster to those tournaments.

Getting the big names like Durant, Curry and James for the Olympics, that's one thing. But, getting them for the World Cup and asking them to represent their country in back-to-back summers, that's something else.

Edwards and Tyrese Haliburton and were on that World Cup team last summer and were picked for this Olympic team as well.

James has played in every summer Olympics for the US since Athens 2004 except for Rio 2016

Sixers star Joel Embiid holding the USA Olympics jersey despite being linked to play for France

'Obviously, last year we didn't do what we wanted to do,' Haliburton said. 'And that was frustrating because any time you get to represent USA Basketball, the expectation is to win. And we weren't able to do that.'

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This team was put together with a very different ending in mind. James is back on the Olympic team for the first time since 2012 and seeking a third gold, Durant is going for what would be a men's Olympic record fourth basketball gold, and five other players - Adebayo, Devin Booker, Jrue Holiday, Jayson Tatum and Anthony Davis - each have one.

The first-time Olympians are Haliburton, Edwards, Curry, Kawhi Leonard and Joel Embiid, someone who the US convinced to play despite a strong push by France for the Philadelphia star to represent the host nation in Paris.

As far as choosing a starting lineup, good luck.

'It's a good problem to have,' Kerr said. 'I'm guessing that all 12 players on this roster will be in the Hall of Fame someday. So, how do you pick five out of 12? The idea is, you find combinations that click, and you find two-way lineups that can be effective at both ends.

The US will look to defend their gold medal in Paris despite crashing out early at the World Cup

'Our big job in Las Vegas is to find five-man combinations that fit and to just ask all 12 guys to fully commit to the goal of winning a gold medal no matter what it looks like, no matter who's playing.'

The Americans play their first exhibition against Canada in Las Vegas, then have games at Abu Dhabi (against Australia and Serbia) and London (against South Sudan and Germany) before the Paris Games start.

The US opens Olympic play July 28 against Serbia and will also have group games against South Sudan and the winner of Sunday's qualifier in Puerto Rico - either Mexico, Lithuania, Italy or Puerto Rico.

'We've got 39 days or so to get locked in to go get this gold medal, 12 amazing, talented guys ready to come together for one goal,' Curry said when he arrived to check in for camp. 'I'm hyped for it all.'

LeBron James arrives at Team USA basketball camp ahead of Olympics (2024)

FAQs

Which medal did LeBron James help the US basketball team win in the 2004 Olympics? ›

James was part of the U.S. teams that won bronze at the 2004 Olympics in Athens and the 2006 world championships (now called the World Cup) in Japan. And ever since then, the Americans have gone unbeaten when James is wearing USA across his chest in international play.

How many times has LeBron James gone to the Olympics? ›

Even after not playing in Rio de Janeiro or Tokyo, James will be participating in his fourth Olympics – tying the record for the most by any U.S. men's player.

Where is Team USA basketball training camp? ›

Some of the biggest names in basketball convened at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas to kick off Team USA's basketball training camp.

When did Lebron join the Olympic team? ›

James was on the ill-fitting bronze medal team coming off his rookie season in 2004, then won a pair of golds in 2008 and 2012.

Why did LeBron skip the Olympics? ›

James made his debut at the 2004 Athens Games after his first NBA season, then played again in 2008 and 2012. He skipped the 2016 Rio Games to rest after leading the Cavs to the franchise's first NBA title.

How many points did LeBron score in the Olympics? ›

As a 19-year-old at the 2004 Olympics in Athens, James had 43 points overall for the USA, who claimed the bronze medal. At the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2006 in Japan, James had 125 as the United States again finished third.

Who is playing for Team USA basketball 2024 Olympics? ›

Team USA roster
PlayerPositionNBA team
Devin BookerGuardPhoenix Suns
Stephen CurryGuardGolden State Warriors
Anthony DavisForward/CenterLos Angeles Lakers
Kevin DurantForwardPhoenix Suns
8 more rows
1 day ago

Who coaches the USA men's basketball team? ›

Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr will serve as the leader for the 2024 American squad. His assistants will include Los Angeles Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue, Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra and Gonzaga head coach Mark Few.

How many basketball teams are located in the US? ›

The NBA originated in 1946 with 11 teams, and through a sequence of team expansions, reductions and relocations consists of 30 teams – 29 in the United States and 1 in Canada. The current league organization divides 30 teams into two 15-team conferences of three divisions with five teams each.

Is LeBron going to the Olympics? ›

Team USA plans to start LeBron James at the Paris Olympics and use him as a point forward, with Stephen Curry playing primarily off the ball, The Athletic's Joe Vardon reported Friday, citing two sources with USA Basketball.

Why wasn t LeBron in 2016 Olympics? ›

James had been non-committal in the lead-up to the Games. He attended last summer's minicamp but did not participate in workouts following his fifth straight appearance in the NBA Finals. It's understandable for James to cede the spotlight to a younger generation.

Did LeBron play in the 2012 Olympics? ›

The 2012 team consisted of returning 2008 Olympic gold medal winners small forwards LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony, point guards Chris Paul and Deron Williams, and shooting guard Kobe Bryant.

Does LeBron have a gold medal in the Olympics? ›

“I'm still playing a high level," James, a three-time Olympic medalist — two golds and one bronze — said Saturday after the first workout. "I still love the game of basketball.

Who won Jordan's only Olympic medal? ›

When Ahmad Abughaush won Jordan's first-ever Olympic gold medal in 2016, he instantly became an icon for his fellow countrymen.

When did USA basketball win the Olympics? ›

United States men's national basketball team
Olympic Games
MedalsGold: (1992, 1993, 1997, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2017) Silver: (1989) Bronze: (2022)
Home Away
First international
United States 2–0 Spain (forfeit) (Berlin, Germany; August 7, 1936)
22 more rows

Does Curry have a gold medal? ›

He was hurt in 2016 after winning gold with Team USA at the 2010 and 2014 FIBA World Cup. Curry wasn't part of the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, either. The reason for his absence at the most recent Games was never explicitly stated. But participants didn't get the full Olympic experience because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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