LeBron James, the Los Angeles Lakers’ star, is proving that he can still be a hero when called upon. On Saturday, he performed that role against South Sudan in a Team USA exhibition match in London. The squad is training for their push to the gold medal at the 2024 Olympics in Paris, when they encountered an unexpected challenge.
South Sudan, one of the members of the United States’ Olympic delegation, was viewed as the easiest opponent considering that the country only declared independence 13 years ago. However, they gave Team USA a run for their money on Saturday, pushing them all the way to the last play. In the last seconds, James scored the game-winning shot to secure a 101-100 victory.
James hit the final bucket, while Anthony Davis helped close things out defensively, giving Team USA a narrow victory. In the aftermath of the triumph, James revealed his immediate reaction, adding that he lives for situations like that and enjoys close battles:
Of course, the United States should have done a better job versus South Sudan in an exhibition match, but maybe there will be no huge close calls like that when the games begin to count. If they do, James appears better prepared to save the day.
Even at 39, James is the team’s go-to choice in crunch time, thanks to his ability to make such plays with ease. James with a head of steam remains one of the game’s most unstoppable players, regardless of opponent level.
South Sudan performed admirably against the United States, earning them widespread recognition ahead of the Olympics. When the games begin to matter, James and Team USA will not have it easy, but the Lakers superstar is willing to be tested.
LeBron James’ age is offered as an example of why Team USA may struggle.
It’s almost ironic that LeBron James was the hero for Team USA, hitting the game-winning shot on Saturday. As earlier that day, Philadelphia 76ers player Joel Embiid made some intriguing remarks about the Lakers star and his age.
When asked what may go wrong for Team USA in their pursuit for the gold medal, Embiid stated that James is not the same player he once was, and that the team as a whole is getting older.
