Is LeBron James playing today against South Sudan? Latest on 4x NBA MVP's availability (July 20)
Team USA and LeBron James are facing new international foes in South Sudan on Saturday for an exhibition match ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics. It's the team's second-to-last exhibition game before their first Olympic match on July 28.
James started and played in 21 minutes for Team USA in their last exhibition match against Serbia, scoring 11 points and dishing out two assists while shooting 5-7 from the field. He's been taking on primary ball-carrying duties for the team's starting unit, with Steph Curry playing off-ball. He's started in every exhibition match so far, and it will likely be that way all tournament.
This summer, James will join Kevin Durant and Carmelo Anthony as the only Americans to feature in four Olympics. They all have three gold medals already.
They're facing a South Sudan team that is one of the newest international teams in the world. They played in their first international tournament in 2017 after former NBA All-Star Luol Deng spearheaded the program for his home country. He's dished money out-of-pocket to help put South Sudan on the international basketball map, a country that doesn't currently have an indoor basketball court.
They're led by former NBA players Carlik Jones and Wenyen Gabriel. Gabriel's last NBA stint was with LeBron James and Anthony Davis on the Lakers in 2022. He's currently playing for Maccabi Tel Aviv in Israel, while Jones last played for the Chicago Bulls but now plays in Serbia's top basketball league.
The two squads share Group C with Serbia and Puerto Rico, and play each other in an official Olympic match on July 31.
Team USA coach Steve Kerr blown away by LeBron James
This summer marks the first time the Golden State Warriors head coach is on the sidelines with LeBron James on his team. He's been consistently surprised with what the 39-year-old James is bringing to the table for Team USA.
"On every single drill he talks," Kerr said to ESPN's Brian Windhorst. "He's even in a shootaround walkthrough, his voice behind the play, yelling out what's happening, yelling out the scheme, his leadership by example. The guy is incredible and I mean I've known that forever, but to see it up close is pretty special."
Kerr, LeBron, and the rest of Team USA will face three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic and Serbia for their first taste of official Olympic action on July 28. They previously trounced them in an exhibition match on July 17