Three weeks from now, 12 chosen NBA players will be heading to Paris to represent the US during the 2024 Summer Olympics. While this is the first time that many stars like Stephen Curry and Anthony Edwards get to take their talents to this prestigious stage, the upcoming games will mark 39-year-old LeBron James’ fourth foray into the Olympics. While the roster keeps the hope alive of securing their fifth consecutive gold medal, it isn’t stopping them from taking a jab at LeBron’s recent unsuccessful stint alongside the Lakers. To top it off, no one is being a more constant reminder of that misery than his own NBA and Team USA teammate Anthony Davis.
The NBA and USA Basketball’s official Instagram accounts highlighted a clip on their feed. It featured the duo of LeBron James and Anthony Davis reuniting as the four-day training camp in Las Vegas for Team USA commences. The duo kept playing around amongst several reporters who were there to witness this momentous occasion in the making. LeBron later proceeded to take a jab at his teammate by stating “I wanna have a good summer, and there’s no way I can have a good summer with this guy here, man!” He would later add on to his remark by stating “Who told him to be on the team, man?! Get out of my chair!”
LeBron’s humorous statement about not being able to have a good “summer” with Anthony Davis around may have been a reference to how his teammate is a reminder of the Lakers’ ongoing free agency troubles. The franchise has now failed twice to secure the shooting guard/small forward that they were coveting. After the Golden State Warriors could not provide a ‘reasonable’ extension deal to Klay Thompson, the star player walked away. The Lakers attempted to bring him in, with LeBron James even reportedly agreeing to take a cut on the salary he would receive over the next few years. However, after Thompson joined the Mavericks, the franchise moved toward 2020 Three-Point Contest Champion Buddy Hield. He, however, ironically ended up heading to the Golden State Warriors.
With the Lakers going through uncertain times, the chance to spend time with the Team USA roster may be a distraction that LeBron James would have welcomed. However, having his Lakers teammate, no matter how deep their friendship may be, may not help things.
LeBron James and Stephen Curry bond during Team USA’s Training Camp
The Golden State Warriors have been involved in both the Lakers’ attempts for acquisitions. However, this is not stopping LeBron James from making the best use of the opportunity and spending quality time with his long time on-court rival Stephen Curry.
While LeBron arrived late to the first day of the camp, Stephen Curry was the earliest bird. As the two caught a glimpse of each other, they proceeded to shake hands and give each other a warm hug. As the Lakers star said “about time”, the Warriors star responded with “let’s have some fun with it.”
“About time… about time”
– LeBron and Curry finally teammates 👀
— LakeShowYo (@LakeShowYo) July 6, 2024
The 2024 Paris Olympics will mark the first time that Stephen Curry and LeBron James will be on the same team on the international stage. While Curry has never been a part of an Olympics roster, LeBron James joined the same during the 2004 Games held in Athens, the 2008 in Beijing, and the 2012 in London. Stephen Curry was a part of the Team USA squad for the 2010 and 2014 FIBA World Cup, both of which LeBron missed. Being widely regarded as the two top players of the modern NBA, the duo finally assemble to once again bring home the gold medal.