LeBron James is ready to compete in your room Olympics.
As in the previous three times, the Lakers superstar will participate in the opening ceremony.
But for the official start of the Paris Games on Friday night, James will have a role that neither he nor anyone else has played for the USA men’s national basketball team already done before.
James was chosen by his fellow American athletes as one of two U.S. flag bearers for the opening ceremony, which will take place on boats along the Seine toward the Eiffel Tower. A woman from Team USA will be announced as the second American flag bearer on Tuesday.
“It is an incredible honor to represent the United States on this global stage, especially at a time that can unite the entire world,” James said in a statement released Monday in London, before the U.S. played its final pre-Olympics exhibition game against the Germany.
See more information: The Olympics give LeBron James another chance to show his Midas touch
“For a kid from Akron, this responsibility means everything not only to me, but to my family, all the kids in my hometown, my teammates, other Olympians and so many people across the country with high aspirations. Sport has the power to unite us all and I am proud to be part of this important moment.”
NBA all-time leading scorer James joins Dawn Staley (2004) and Sue Bird (2021) as the only US basketball players to serve as a flag bearer. He was nominated for the honor by the Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry on behalf of the US men’s national team.
“He represented what it means to be excellent on and off the court in his commitment to service and uplifting the community in all the ways he knows has been a lifelong passion,” Curry said in a video supporting the James’ recommendation. “And the work speaks for itself.”
This story originally appeared on Los Angeles Times.
