LeBron James has played in three Olympic games — bringing home two gold medals, but skipped last summer’s Olympics in Rio de Janeiro to get rest after leading the Cavs to an NBA championship.
Asked about the prospects of a return to Olympic competition — James made it clear that “his respect for Gregg Popovich” would weigh heavily per USA Today.
“It factors a lot,” James said Saturday as the Cavaliers prepared to host Popovich’s San Antonio Spurs. “I’ve said that before. He’s just a great mastermind of the game of basketball.”
I think the Popovich addition was made to keep the continuity of NBA stars flowing, with a coach that’s widely respect and honored across the game.
“Team USA is in good hands with him,” James told The Associated Press in 2015. “It was in good hands with Coach K. It’s almost like ‘The Godfather.’ We hand it off to Michael Corleone now.”
James will be 36 in 2020, but will he want to chase one final Olympic gold is a question that can be answered in a couple of years.