LeBron James called ‘modern day Muhammad Ali’ after holding USA flag at Paris Olympics

LeBron James has been providing excellence in the sporting world for the past two decades.

LeBron James called ‘modern day Muhammad Ali’ after holding USA flag at Paris Olympics

Team USA superstar LeBron James called 'modern day Muhammad Ali' after holding USA flag at Paris Olympics 2024

LeBron James created history by becoming the first NBA player to lead Team USA out into the Paris Olympics 2024. By leading with the USA flag in hand, the Los Angeles Lakers superstar established himself as one of the most prominent sporting personalities in the history of America. Somewhat akin to what the great Muhammad Ali was. At least that is what former analyst Dan Le Batard thinks.

The former analyst turned podcaster was speaking on his show, The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz. During the discussion about Team USA’s win over Serbia in the Olympics, Le Batard said:

I don't think we understand how unfair we've been to excellence over the last 20 years. With social media mocking people, he was always chasing Michael. Seeing him holding that American flag, and that flag means something different than it did twenty years ago, but the person holding it doesn’t. He still represents excellence for twenty years, today’s Ali.
Dan Le Batard Show on The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
YouTube video

What Dan Le Batard tried to explain is that had it been Michael Jordan instead of James at the Olympics, holding the flag, everyone would have been more appreciative. Especially, in that era when there was no social media for people to talk and criticize.

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However, James is facing everything that fans and analysts throw at him. More importantly, he is taking all that criticism, handling it, and still leading the country and playing elite basketball at almost 40 years of age. That is a Muhammad Ali-esque impact from James.

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LeBron James will cement his legacy by leading Team USA to gold

The 4-time NBA Champion did not have to play in the Paris Olympics 2024. After all, he needs more rest than any other player on Team USA due to his age. Instead, he was the one who set the wheels for this super team in motion. Therefore, he was going to lead the charge at these Olympics.

Many expected LeBron James to play only a supporting role as he will need to stay fresh for the upcoming NBA season. But he played a team-high 27 minutes. More importantly, his intention to win the gold medal showed when he continued playing even though Team USA was comfortably in the lead.

That instantly suggests that he will be leading the line all the way through. Not as a bench warmer resting as the younger players go to work. That leadership will go a long way to cement his legacy as one of the all-time greats in sports.

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