Team USA’s win against Nikola Jokic and his Serbian teammates in the semifinals of the Paris Olympics showed what happens when three of the best players in the NBA decide to take things over. Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant showed that their clutch reputations were intact. However, analyst Nick Wright thinks it was LeBron James who did the most damage.
Wright was discussing how Team USA went about to eventually win the game. He explained his views by pointing out:
The more evidence that this guy is simply, literally and metaphorically, built different than any other basketball player we’ve ever seen has to matter. And in the fourth quarter, what he did was outplay considerably, the guy that everyone thinks is the best player in the world. And he turns 40 in 4 months. It is further evidence that, we’ve never seen a basketball player like this guy.
Nick Wright on First Things First
Suggesting that LeBron James has done things that other players have not. That too with consistency throughout the tournament, at age 39.
Age is a factor here, as most players on other Olympicteams are there just for the ride. They hit a shot or two and then are glued to the bench. On the other hand, LeBron James played the third highest minutes of any player in that Olympic semifinal match. In those minutes, he shot with efficiency, took care of the ball, and looked for teammates.
“The more evidence that this guy is simply, literally and metaphorically, built different than any other basketball player we’ve ever seen HAS to matter.”
— @getnickwright on LeBron’s GOAT case after Olympics Semifinal performance vs. Serbia pic.twitter.com/gZfYMkM17m
— First Things First (@FTFonFS1) August 9, 2024
That last part garnered him a triple double and helped Team USA turn the game around. But as Nick Wright said, James taking on the assignment of defending Nikola Jokic, stood out. As it freed up his teammates to conserve their energy and do damage on the offensive end.
LeBron James gets praise from Team USA Basketball director
All that effort has not gone unnoticed. Even Executive Director of Team USA, Grant Hill, had high praise for LeBron James. He pointed out to Rachel Nichols on the show Open Run that:
He has been professional. His consistency, always on time. First one there. He’s in the weight room every day, and then the leadership. He’s a connector, he’s a glue guy. We all have watched and admired his talents on the court. For the last month or so, I’ve watched and admired just how he leads a team.
Grant Hill on Open Run
This observation from Grant Hill is from the practice sessions Team USA held in preparations for the Olympics. His observations have made him understand what makes LeBron James great.
Grant Hill played until he was 40, but as he told us in Open Run, he didn’t have quiiiiiite the hops LeBron has at 39. Very cool story here from Grant about how locked LeBron has been on this Olympic team since Day 1. pic.twitter.com/aO7no7gtE4
— Rachel Nichols (@Rachel__Nichols) August 9, 2024
The willingness to keep himself conditioned enables LeBron James to go hard when needed. All throughout the group stage and the quarterfinals, James barely played more than half of the total minutes.
But when needed, such as in the semifinals, not only was he ready, but took on the best player in the world. That comes from the preparation, conditioning, and knowledge of the game that Hill observed.
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