LeBron James reveals if he'll play for Team USA in 2028 Olympics

Joseph Kallan

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LeBron James reveals if he'll play for Team USA in 2028 Olympics image

Kyle Terada | 2024 Aug 11

LeBron James might be — if he’s not already — one of the most decorated basketball players to ever enter the NBA.

You can go down his résumé and pinpoint which accomplishment stands as his greatest, but when the time comes for the King to pack his bags and call it a night, the league will undoubtedly remember him far more for the good than the bad.

This legacy includes his time with the Team USA men’s Olympic basketball team, most recently adding to it in 2024 by winning gold for the third time in his career. Whether he has one more appearance left — a question fans have been eager to know — was addressed in part two of his Mind The Game podcast featuring his Olympic teammate, Steph Curry.

“You already know my answer, so don’t even, don’t even ask. I will be watching it from Cabo.”

James has hinted that he will be wrapping up his NBA career within the next one to two seasons, effectively ruling out participation in the 2028 Summer Olympics. He’s already earned four Olympic medals: bronze in 2004, followed by gold in 2008, 2012, and 2024. His gap between the most recent appearance and the one before it marks the longest stretch any player has gone between Team USA selections.

In the 2024 Paris Olympics, LeBron averaged 14.2 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 8.5 assists per game, earning MVP honors. He also logged a team-high 27.5 minutes per game and was named to the Olympics All-Star Five.

James isn’t just a part of Olympic history — he has cemented himself into basketball history as a whole. Even if he were eligible, he’d likely take on more of a backseat role behind the rising stars of today, while still offering invaluable insight.

And although he ruled out playing, he never said a coaching opportunity is something he’d shy away from.

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Contributing Writer