"I wasn’t very impressed" - LeBron James downplays France threat, highlights FIBA champions as dark horses
LeBron James has seemingly identified the national team that can put on a good fight against Team USA and give them a real challenge for the gold medal in the 2024 Paris Olympics. The Americans have won the gold in the last four editions of the summer games, and given the type of talent they have on the roster, they are favorites to do so again this year.
While France was considered a strong team to challenge Team USA, they were inconsistent in their first three outings as they dropped one game. James snubbed them from his list of potential contenders for the gold medal and focused on two teams that dominated in the group stage.
According to Ben Golliver, James sees Germany and Canada as bigger threats. He noted that France was not ready for Germany's physicality, which ruined their chances of winning their matchup.
“I wasn’t very impressed with their last game. I didn’t think they were ready for the physicality of Germany. Other than that, they were playing some good ball," James said.
Team USA has been dominant in the group stage, too. They easily beat Serbia, South Sudan, and Puerto Rico, respectively, boasting a perfect 3-0 record — the same as Germany and Canada.
After the first round, these three teams established themselves as serious contenders for the gold medal. A positive note for LeBron James and Team USA is that they already faced and beat these two teams in their pre-Olympic preparation games.
Mike Krzyzewski calls LeBron James' doubters 'crazy'
Legendary coach Mike Krzyzewski sat down with Colin Cowherd to discuss LeBron James' impact on the game. The former Team USA head coach sent a strong message to James' critics.
“He [LeBron James] and Kobe [Bryant], I thought were just above everyone in preparation, physical, mental, you name it. When they were on the court at a practice or in a game, they wanted to be the best, all the time, all the time and they paid the price for it. For anyone who knocks LeBron in any way, they’re crazy," Krzyzewski told Cowherd on “The Herd”.
"We’re not going to see anybody like him, he’s one of a kind. Just what he’s doing in the Olympics, his verve, his demeanor, his attitude, he helps his team by how he looks, not just how he plays."
James has already won two Olympic gold medals, both under Krzyzewski's coaching. He is looking to add another one this year and help Team USA win its fifth straight gold.