Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James will serve as Team USA’s male flag bearer for the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics on Friday.
James’ Olympic teammate and NBA rival Stephen Curry nominated him for the role. Other American Olympians then picked James to carry the U.S. flag during the ceremony, making him the first men’s basketball player to do so. Two women’s basketball players have held the distinction - Dawn Staley at the Athens Games in 2004, and Sue Bird at the Tokyo Games in 2021.
"It's an incredible honor to represent the United States on this global stage, especially in a moment that can bring the whole world together," James said in a statement, according to Tim Reynolds of The Associated Press.
"For a kid from Akron, this responsibility means everything to not only myself, but to my family, all the kids in my hometown, my teammates, fellow Olympians and so many people across the country with big aspirations. Sports have the power to bring us all together, and I’m proud to be a part of this important moment."
James, 39, has won two gold medals with Team USA - in the 2008 and 2012 Olympics in Beijing and London, respectively. The NBA’s all-time leading scorer also collected a bronze medal at the 2004 Games in Athens.
The women’s flag bearer will be announced on Tuesday. The American Olympic contingent will be part of a new-look opening ceremony in which Olympians will sail in a flotilla along the River Seine toward the Eiffel Tower as part of a six-kilometer route.
Team USA begins its quest for a gold medal against Serbia on Sunday.
