- The role of flag-bearer at the Olympics is a very prestigious honor, given to the top athletes for the country.
- For the 2024 Summer Olympics in France, LeBron James is tabbed to carry the flag at the opening ceremony, and he’ll be joined by a female athlete TBA.
- Past flag-bearers include Michael Phelps, Simone Biles, Sue Bird, Mia Hamm, and Dawn Staley.
The 2024 Summer Olympics are slated to kick off on Friday, July 26, with the opening ceremonies in Paris. One major role for Friday has already been filled by one of the most popular athletes on the planet: LeBron will carry the American flag.
ESPN has reported that LeBron James will be the flag-bearer for the United States during Friday’s opening ceremonies. James is the first NBA player to ever carry the flag at either ceremony (opening or closing) for the Olympics. The report also states that the female flag-bearer is to be announced on Tuesday, July 23.
James Humbled By “Incredible Honor” in Paris
A video was tweeted out by Team USA Basketball, showing the moment when Stephen Curry revealed to James and the men’s basketball team that he would be the flag-bearer.
James released a statement on Monday morning from London, England, where Team USA will play their final prep game against Germany later today.
"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.
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."
It makes sense that James would be the male flag-bearer for Team USA. On a list of most-followed Twitter (or X, if you’re calling it that) accounts, James is the highest-ranking American athlete with 52.9 million followers. You would have also gotten great odds on James being the US Olympic flag-bearer, as he was well down the board.
This is also his fourth trip to the Olympics and his first since 2012. James was on the 2004 Olympic team that won a disappointing bronze medal. However, “King James” was a major part of the next two Olympic teams that won gold to re-establish the United States as the pre-eminent basketball force on the planet.
James Has Already Established Himself as Team USA’s Leader
Team USA’s men’s basketball team is the favorite at Olympic betting sites to win the gold medal, but the squad has been tested in pre-tournament games. The Americans were pushed to their limits against South Sudan on Saturday, July 20, and they were down by 16 points at one time.
However, James dominated the second half of the game and scored 25 games, including the game-winning layup, in a 101-100 win to avoid a major upset. It’s not surprising that James stepped up and saved the team from an embarrassing loss.
It’s also not surprising that James, who will be 40 in December, put the team on his back. He is the elder statesman of the group, and, arguably, the best player in the world for the last decade or more at different points. This is the best collection of basketball players in the world, and they still look to James.
While he isn’t the player he used to be, James is still a top-15 player in the NBA. He has seen and done it all over his 21-year career. James has enough international experience that nothing bothers him.
