LeBron: Playing for Pop 'factors a lot' into 2020 Olympics decision

LeBron James continues to drop hints about his future involvement with Team USA.

James is intrigued by the opportunity to play under San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich, who will take over for Duke's Mike Krzyzewski, as the head coach of the United States Men's National Team in 2020.

"It factors a lot," James told ESPN's Dave McMenamin. "I've said that before. He's just a great mastermind of the game of basketball."

James was thought to be retired from international competition following London 2012. That was his third trip to the Summer Olympics and it bore a second gold medal for James' overflowing mantle.

He skipped out on Rio 2016 last summer citing a desire to rest following an exhausting Finals run. James would be 36 come time for Tokyo 2020.

James and Popovich have been quite chummy of late. James referred to Popovich as the "greatest coach of all time" while Popovich called James "The King."

Having competed against one another in the course of three Finals (Popovich taking two, James taking one), the two titans have developed a mutual respect.

"We've had a lot of fun over the years going back and forth on the court, so I respect the hell out of him," Popovich said of James. "I've really enjoyed his progression, because now he truly is 'The King.' In the beginning he wasn't. Everybody tried to make him that. He handled it really well. That was a tough situation for a young guy to be in like that. But the fact that he rose to that level and earned it, I think is very appropriate and really a tribute to him."