PARIS, FRANCE – JULY 26: Lebron James, Flagbearer of Team United States, looks on prior to the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 on July 26, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)© PARIS, FRANCE – JULY 26: Lebron James, Flagbearer of Team United States, looks on prior to the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 on July 26, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
LeBron James will be one of the two U.S. flag bearers at the Paris Olympic Opening Ceremony on Friday, the first Opening Ceremony to be held outside of a stadium.
James, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, is the first male basketball player to be a U.S. Opening Ceremony flag bearer.
Tennis star Coco Gauff was selected as the female flag bearer for the U.S.
“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,” James said in a press release. “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.”
U.S. Opening Ceremony flag bearers are selected by voting from fellow American Olympic athletes across sports. James was nominated on behalf of the men’s basketball team by Stephen Curry.
“I think LeBron’s entire career, on and off the court, speaks for itself as him being worthy of that honor,” Curry said.
The Opening Ceremony airs live on NBC and Peacock on Friday at noon ET. Coverage will be hosted by Mike Tirico, Kelly Clarkson and Peyton Manning.
Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James was given the distinction of being named a USA flag bearer for the 2024 Olympic opening ceremonies. LeBron was joined by tennis star Coco Gauff in representing America with this honor.
It is truly something special for James, who will be taking part in the final Olympics of his illustrious basketball career and he has the opportunity to win his third Olympic gold medal.
But before he gets on the court he will be fulfilling those duties of being a USA flag bearer and, despite the weather not being ideal in Paris, James enjoyed his time the opening ceremonies:
Being a flag bearer is something very few are selected for and LeBron is the first USA male basketball player to receive the honor. He is the third basketball player overall to be a flag bearer, joining women’s stars Sue Bird, who held the honor in the last Olympics, and Dawn Staley, who did so in 2004.
The importance of this is not lost on LeBron as the Lakers star said he was humbled and appreciative to be chosen for this honor and called it something he and his family will remember forever. The elder statesman of Team USA, it is excellent that he is paired with Gauff who is in her first Olympics and the younger American flag bearer at just 20 years old.
Whenever LeBron James does anything, he takes it serious and this opportunity to represent his country in this way is extremely fitting for his final appearance at the Olympics.
