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Lakers' LeBron James Says He's Committed to Play for Team USA in 2024 Paris Olympics


Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images

LeBron James will be 39 years old and coming off his 21st season in the NBA this summer, but that's not going to stop him from representing his country in the 2024 Paris Olympics.

The King told reporters Sunday that he plans on playing in the Games as long as he is healthy enough at that point of the calendar. "If I'm committed, which I am, I'm going to commit my mind, body and soul," he said.

James also pointed out he appreciates he doesn't have to "carry the load" at this point of his career thanks to how many talented teammates he figures to have in Paris.

Last month, USA Basketball announced a 41-player pool for the 2024 team. That group will eventually be trimmed to a 12-member team, and there is no shortage of star players for managing director Grant Hill, head coach Steve Kerr and others to choose from ahead of the Olympics.

In addition to James, players such as Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Joel Embiid, Anthony Davis, Anthony Edwards, James Harden, Kawhi Leonard, Damian Lillard, Donovan Mitchell, Jayson Tatum and Tyrese Haliburton, among others, are part of the 41-player pool.

As long as James wants to play, he will be a part of the team.

After all, he is on the shortest of short lists of the best players in NBA history and has plenty of experience at the Olympic level with three different appearances. He was part of the American teams that took home the gold in 2008 and 2012, as well as the one that captured bronze in the 2004 Games.

Including James on this year's team wouldn't just be a nod to his past either.

He will take the court for his 20th career All-Star Game on Sunday and remains an excellent player who is averaging 24.8 points, 7.8 assists, 7.2 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game this season for the Los Angeles Lakers.

The four-time champion will be a veteran leader for Team USA in France, but he is also still capable of taking over games as he pursues a third gold medal in his Olympics career.

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