Ex-Laker fires playful jab at LeBron James highlighting 41YO Brazilian's Olympics performance
While LeBron James may be preparing to compete for his fourth Olympic gold medal, and his 22nd season in the NBA, former LA teammate Alex Caruso poked fun at King James. During France vs Brazil on Saturday, Caruso shouted out 41-year-old Marcelo Huertas, who is competing for Brazil in the 2024 Paris Olympic games.
Huertas, who played two seasons with the LA Lakers from 2015-2017, scored 11 points in Saturday's 78-66 loss to France. In addition to his offensive work, Hertas finished the game with three rebounds, while leading the team in assists with five.
While he and Brazil may have come up short of their ultimate goal, losing their first game of the Group Phase, Alex Caruso was impressed, giving Huertas a shoutout on X, formerly known as Twitter, while making a joke about LeBron James' age.
"Bron who?! Marcelo Huertas is 41 out here ballin"
James, of course, is approaching 40 years old, with his birthday falling on Dec. 30, midway through the NBA season. While there has been plenty of talk regarding this being his fourth, and likely, final Olympics, he and Team USA won't compete until Sunday, when they play their opening game of the Group Phase.
Looking at LeBron James and Team USA's schedule leading up to the Olympics, and their Olympic schedule
Leading up to the 2024 Paris Olympics, LeBron James was voted the best player on the team by his fellow Team USA teammates. Prior to the start of the Olympics, James and Team USA went undefeated through their five international friendly games.
The team began their international friendly schedule against Canada on Jul. 10, with the team picking up a big win over Canada, who finished third in the 2023 FIBA World Cup last summer. From there, the team defeated Australia and Serbia, who finished second in the FIBA World Cup.
In Team USA's fourth game, the team wound up in a closely-contested battle with South Sudan, who jumped out to an early lead in the second quarter. After a big third-quarter comeback, LeBron James lifted the team to victory with a game-winner to give the US a 101-100 win.
In the team's final game of the Group Phase, they defeated Germany 92-88, with James again giving the team a big late-game push to extend their unbeaten streak.
The start of Olympic basketball is on Saturday, Jul. 27. LeBron James, who carried the flag for Team USA in the Opening Ceremony, and Team USA will compete in their first game of the Group Phase on Sunday, Jul. 28 against Serbia in a highly anticipated rematch.
From there the team will next play South Sudan, before then wrapping up the Group Phase against Puerto Rico.