LeBron James & Anthony Davis Make Early Team USA Decision on 2028 Olympics
The 2024 Summer Olympics came and went, resulting in the Team USA men's basketball team winning its fifth consecutive gold medal. As the entire nation celebrated the team's impressive victory, Los Angeles Lakers fans were even more thrilled as the gold medal victory means LeBron James and Anthony Davis will begin the 2024-25 NBA season with even more confidence.
Team USA's victory also has Lakers fans (and basketball enthusiasts in general) wondering if the L.A. duo will be back representing their country at the next Olympics. After all, the 2028 Summer Games will be held in Los Angeles and it's hard to imagine them happening without two of the best players who've recently worn a Lakers jersey.
Now that this year's tournament is done, we have some clarity regarding the pair's Olympic outlook.
Lakers News: Anthony Davis, LeBron James Shed Light on Olympic Future
When it comes to Davis, NBA insider Brian Windhorst reports that the 30-year-old big man is aiming to make the 2028 Team USA roster. According to Windhorst, Davis said that he's "going to be there for L.A," indicating that he's gunning for at least one more Olympic run.
On the other hand, Lakers fans shouldn't expect to see LeBron in the City of Angels in four years. Following the Paris Games, the multi-time NBA MVP told ESPN's Marc J. Spears over the weekend that he "can't see myself playing" at the 2028 Summer Olympics.
Truthfully, neither of these answers should surprise basketball enthusiasts.
It makes a ton of sense that Davis isn't done with the Olympics. Even though he'll be 34 years old in 2028, he still has a ton of juice in the tank and is more than capable of playing at an All-NBA level. His skills might not be what they were when four years roll around, but that shouldn't change the fact that he'll still be one of the best American bigs on both sides of the court.
As for LeBron, participating in another Olympic tournament is a major long shot at this point in his career. The future Hall-of-Famer will be 43 years old when the Olympics make their way to L.A. and while it would be quite the sight to see him representing the United States in Los Angeles, we're closer to the end of his career than the beginning.
Besides, even if he's still playing in the NBA, will a 43-year-old LeBron want to put his body through another intense tournament? He's at the point of his life when he should be looking back at all he's accomplished while relaxing poolside, and no one would blame him if he chooses that route.
Regardless of what happens in 2028, the fact remains that Team USA couldn't have won this year without the Lakers duo. James averaged 14.2 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 8.5 assists while shooting 66% from the floor while Davis put up 8.3 points and 6.7 rebounds in a backup role.
The next Summer Olympics aren't for another four years, though, meaning Lakers fans can focus on the present. As it stands, LeBron & Co. head into the 2024-25 season with the 10th-best odds to win the NBA Finals (+3500), per FanDuel Sportsbook.
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