Twenty years ago, I was enjoying my last summer before 8th grade, a pivotal time in any child’s life. My growing love for basketball helped me grow from a MJ/Bulls fan to a lover of basketball. Allen Iverson was still that boy and my new favorite player, LeBron James, was fresh off winning Rookie of the Year. Summer of 2004 was the first time LeBron played for the USA Men’s Olympic Basketball team. 20 years later, and LeBron is wearing the 56,598 regular season minutes well. Over the last few games, LeBron has been the most dominant on the floor. He’s not the overgrown teenager anymore, he’s an overgrown adult. LeBron’s effort and tenacity may lead some to believe that he’s out to prove something. He’s accomplished everything there is for an American born basketball player, except win a Final Four or Wooden Award. Instead of riding off into the sunset at 39, he’s decided to take on the insurmountable. LeBron is hell bent on defeating father time.
It was heartwarming to watch the video of Stephen Curry announcing to the rest of Team USA that LeBron will be representing the United States of America in the opening ceremony for the 2024 Paris Olympics. Coco Gauff was announced as the other flag bearer in an equally touching video. Two athletes on two ends of the spectrum of athletic mortality. Two Black Americans athletes will be the face of our country. If you love tennis or seeing Black women win, you’re familiar with Coco Gauff. On the scale of an unknown athlete to a one-name athlete, she still has a little work to do before getting the LeBron/Serena/Ronaldo/Messi treatment. Though Coco isn’t as well known as LeBron, her selection is not only logical but smart. USA asking LeBron to be flag bearer as the most famous athlete we have at the games isn’t that surprising, but he’s also the most polarizing.
He has been one of the most polarizing American athletes since the Hummer controversy at St. Vincent St. Mary. Recently, he graduated from petty sports Twitter debates after using the platform to call a former president a ‘bum’. (Sidenote: DT45 had a wild LeBron quote a couple years ago. Talmbout “LeBron, did you ever have thoughts about going woman? Because if you did I’d love to have you on my basketball team.” That boy outta pocket) 2 years ago, New York Magazine published a story about LeBron and his new strategy of avoiding politics. As you know, the word ‘politics’ is such a large umbrella stretching beyond legislation but it’s true. LeBron has taken a step back lately. Other than a walked back statement about former teammate, Kyrie Irving, he’s been relatively quiet.
This new chapter of LeBron’s public life could be titled,”Republicans own sports teams too.” One of the most poorly kept secrets around the NBA is that LeBron has been preparing to own an NBA team. Current ownership has to approve prospective owners. He seems to have a great partnership with Lakers owner Jeanie Buss but I can’t imagine he has a great relationship with the teams he spurned. This leaves 27 other owners who have to approve LeBron James, the person not the basketball player, if he ever wants to join the ‘Good Ol’ Boys Club’. According to The Ringer, 80.9 percent of political donations by NBA owners have gone to Republicans and Republican causes during the 2020 election cycle.
LeBron has been playing career point ‘em out, knock ‘em out since 18 and he’ll probably knock out owning a sports team one day. As owner he could hire current agent, founder of Klutch and head of sports at United Talent Agency Rich Paul and creating a talent funnel like the New York Knicks. He has the opportunity to amass more power than any American athlete ever. Not MJ, Not Tom Brady. LeBron will have the chance to stand alone as a power broker at the top of sports. But, at what cost? I fear he’ll become another wealthy Black person, so weighed down by riches he will no longer have the spirit to fight for what’s right.
Luckily, there’s still time for him to be just a basketball player. Before we reach another drama filled Lakers season, LeBron will have to lead team USA to another gold medal. The onus is on him because he’s the obvious the captain, not only vocally but also with his play. He dominated down the stretch of two close games against South Sudan and Germany. All of his skills were on display from offensive orchestration to dirty work plays like hustling back for steals after made baskets. On this team, he plays like a glorified role player with GOAT status.
In 2012, LeBron was MVP and Finals MVP after winning his first ring but he was not the big dog at the London Games on Team USA. Kobe had more rings, more tenure, more fame and the aura of a walking legend. On the court he was still looking to dominate while on a team with players people perceive as better. (Sound familiar?) Kobe was Captain America in London, supporting other American athletes by showing up to events and cheering like just another fan. He was the face of American athletes at London Games, not only because he was the most famous but because he was the most visible. Today, as LeBron bears that American flag at the opening ceremony, he will take the torch of Captain from Bean, one competitive maniac to another.
