French Open Champion Coco Gauff Recalls LeBron James Leaving Team USA Paris Olympians in Awe

LeBron James became the 1st NBA player ever to lead Team USA at an Olympics as the official flag bearer alongside Coco Gauff.

French Open Champion Coco Gauff Recalls LeBron James Leaving Team USA Paris Olympians in Awe

Coco Gauff reveals how LeBron James became Moses at the Paris Olympics (Image via FirstSportz)

Coco Gauff is at the highest point of her career after winning the French Open singles title, defeating world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka a few months after leading Team USA in the Paris Olympics as co-flag bearer alongside LeBron James.

She did not have a great Paris Olympics campaign, crashing out of the 2nd round. However, Gauff took solace from the fact that she stood beside James holding the American flag, leading Team USA to dominate the Olympics.

After her French Open win, the 21-year-old started her celebratory lap by first making it to a WNBA game featuring the New York Liberty and the Chicago Sky. Earlier today, she was invited to the ESPN studios to speak with the cast of First Take. When asked if the Los Angeles Lakers superstar gave her any advice, she said.

No. We were just high on vibes, we were geeking out that we were holding the flag. He was huge. That’s how you know he is iconic, cause you have a full of Olympians, the best in their sport, and they like parted the Red Sea for him. You would have thought he was Moses the way he walked through with his shades on.

Coco Gauff said

The French Open winner added that she and the other Team USA athletes felt the ‘untouchable’ aura of LeBron James during that opening ceremony. One of his loudest critics, Stephen A. Smith, understood what she meant and chuckled, hearing Gauff place it that way and make James similar to Moses.

LeBron James wants small-market NBA Finals talk to stop

Coco Gauff revealed how a superstar of LeBron James’ stature can make even the best athletes look up to him in awe. Similarly, the NBA had hoped that James and other superstars would help the NBA playoffs garner high ratings.

However, once they fell off the wayside, two small-market teams ended up facing each other in the NBA Finals. There has been a significant drop in ratings, and many believe the league needs superstars in the biggest games. However, James believes that notion has to stop.

I played in Cleveland for 11 years, and we were a small market. I think it’s all about the storylines. It’s about what people can say on TV, and create these Superman vs Batman or DC comics vs Marvel. When it comes to the game of basketball, it doesn’t matter who’s representing who. It’s about two great teams.

LeBron James said

The 4-time champion believes it is the teams that make up the Finals, no matter how many superstars are on the court. If the media are not willing to talk about them, it is a problem, as they should be focusing on who the best in the sport are.

LeBron James reveals Pat Riley’s advice that both Finals teams should follow

The Indiana Pacers and the Oklahoma City Thunder might not have the draw of a Los Angeles Lakers or New York Knicks. But they have proved that they are the best teams in the NBA, which is why they are in the Finals. LeBron James revealed on his Mind the Game pod what both teams should focus on.

LeBron James wants NBA Finalists to seize the moment
LeBron James wants NBA Finalists to seize the moment (Image via Overtime/X)

One of the things I’ve learned from Pat Riley, he just always would say, ‘Listen, we’re here for a reason. We’re here to do a job, enjoy it, but keep the main thing the main thing.

LeBron James said

The 40-year-old reiterated that not everyone gets a chance to compete for the NBA Finals. When one gets the chance, it is imperative that they focus on the main task and forget about everything else. After achieving success, they can return to all the things that make them happy.

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