LeBron James, at 39, pulled off one of the greatest performances on the global stage, setting standards for other athletes when it comes to a player’s versatility and longevity. Watching him dominate in Paris, who also won the MVP award, made fans wonder if he’ll suit up for the LA Olympics.
Of course, LeBron James is the current face of the Lakers, and if he plans to stay with LA Lakers till 2028, there is a chance that we might see him in the next Summer Olympics. However, there are a lot of factors that come into play when talking about James’ candidature for the next Olympics. Well, Noah Eagle, NBC’s sports announcer who called Team USA’s games in Paris, recently shared his insights on James’ return to the Olympics.
“Knowing him and knowing what he understands about making history and how he enjoys this aspect of longevity and the fact that nobody’s really done this at this level. There’s a part of me that says ‘He’ll play’… And knowing LeBron, he’s only going to do it if he feels he’s going to play at a high enough level to be on the team. So, it’s an interesting question, it’s an interesting topic. I’m not sure the correct answer is yes or no at this point because I think LeBron also does kind of go day by day with it. How he feels in the moment. But as a result of that, him declaring it right now doesn’t feel like it’s accurate either…”, said Noah Eagle on The Rich Eisen Show.
Not only will it depend on how James would feel at the time, but also the rest of the participants. This time around, LeBron James had Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant as the major star power outside of him. Four years from now, the new generation would have taken over. This would include players like Jayson Tatum, Anthony Edwards, Devin Booker, and others. Consequently, being a part of such a team would be a factor to look out for. Nevertheless, apart from his personal decision, it is safe to say that James could run the tires at 43.
There are a lot of fans who believe that James could make another Olympic run. And so does KD. Kevin Durant has all his trust in James’ longevity while predicting, “I mean, these guys are still playing at elite level, you know. Like Bron could play four or five more. It might be here in 28′ in LA, you know”, said KD. Well, LeBron recently signed another two-year deal with the Lakers. This could indicate his last couple of seasons in LA., but might not be his last stretch before his retirement.
Should LeBron James eye for a fourth Olympic medal or a fifth title run?
Earlier this year, LeBron indicated his retirement. The King famously said, “I don’t have much time left.”, which left fans believing that he might call it a day after declining his $51.4 million player option this summer. Yes, we’ll see him in action for another two years, especially beside his son Bronny James. But then again, what’s next following the 2025-26 season? There are high chances that the King’s last season will be foretold. And if this is the case after his existing contract ends, we’ll know his decision by next summer.
He has four titles, four MVP awards, four Finals MVPs, three gold medals, an all-time scoring record, 20 All-Star appearances, and various other accolades under his name. At this point, James would feel the need to go for a fifth title run more than a fourth Olympic gold.
