Despite being almost 40 years and sharing the court with some of the best basketball players who have ever lived, LeBron James is still making a strong impression on Team USA leading up to the Olympics.
In a straw poll of participants in Team USA training camp by The Athletic’s Joe Vardon and Sam Amick, James was voted the best player on the roster based on his work since camp opened on Saturday.
“That’s what I told my brother after the first day, I was like dude’s 40 and he’s the best player on the court,” Houston Rockets forward Amen Thompson, who is playing on the U.S. select team, said of James.
James received five votes, followed by Stephen Curry, Anthony Edwards and Jrue Holiday with two each. Joel Embiid, Anthony Davis, Kawhi Leonard and Bam Adebayo each received one vote.
Vardon and Amick noted most of the participants in the poll were players and coaches on the select team, with no members of Team USA voting.
Orlando Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley, who is coaching the select team, praised James’ leadership on the floor.
“You feel and see his presence on the court,” Mosley said. “You see exactly what he’s doing, the way he’s communicating, the way he’s talking, getting guys in position. There’s a level of focus on the seriousness of understanding the moment that he just continues to show.”
Team USA and the select team played a scrimmage on Monday that was notable for 17-year-old Cooper Flagg dominating against elite competition. The Olympic roster held on for a 74-73 win thanks to Davis blocking Brandin Podziemski’s shot at the buzzer.
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USA Basketball survives a Cooper Flagg-led Select Team comeback to barely win scrimmage, 74-73. Anthony Davis with the game-saving block on the final possession. pic.twitter.com/9YUmf5UFvi
There was speculation based on Team USA’s roster construction, along with both Kawhi Leonard and Joel Embiid being healthy, that head coach Steve Kerr might look to use James off the bench in the Olympics.
This was before Kevin Durant was being held out of practice and scrimmages due to a calf injury. Kerr said the two-time NBA Finals MVP is day-to-day and they are just being careful.
Still, it seems strange to think James might not be a starter in what will most likely be the final Olympics of his career. He’s made it clear how important winning a third gold medal is for him.
“Our only goal, is to win a gold medal,” James told reporters on Saturday.
Based on how seriously James is treating this training camp, he’s going to do everything in his power to make that happen.
James and Team USA will begin a five-game showcase schedule on Wednesday against Canada. The Americans will open group play at the Olympics against Serbia on July 28.
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