LeBron James may have already said the 2024 Paris Olympics were his last with Team USA, but according to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, the decision on the 2028 Olympics rests with LeBron. Team USA will save a spot if he decides to return.
Windhorst reported that USA Basketball would have no issues about reserving a spot for the four-time NBA champion if he decides to compete in front of a home crowd in Los Angeles.
LeBron is one of the most decorated players in Team USA history, winning gold medals in 2008, 2012, and 2024, as he helped restore American dominance after a shocking 2004 Olympic exit. At the Paris Games in 2024, he was Team USA’s best player, and he earned Olympic MVP honors after leading a roster filled with NBA superstars to another gold medal.
By the time the Los Angeles Olympics arrive, LeBron will be 43 years old. The Philadelphia 76ers star has already stated that the Paris Olympics were likely his final appearance, but you never know with LeBron. With the Games taking place on American soil, many believe that this opportunity would be too special for LeBron to pass up.
Windhorst’s comments suggest that if LeBron changes his mind, Team USA won’t make him fight for a roster spot. Instead, they could just be waiting for his decision.
That doesn’t mean Team USA lacks alternate options. ESPN recently projected a 2028 roster featuring Anthony Edwards, Jayson Tatum, Cade Cunningham, Tyrese Haliburton, Cooper Flagg, Chet Holmgren, Jalen Williams, Scottie Barnes, Bam Adebayo, Amen Thompson, Kon Knueppel, and Jalen Duren.
But that projection did leave off several notable stars, including Devin Booker, Tyrese Maxey, Jaylen Brown, Joel Embiid, and Kevin Durant.
Durant’s omission is obviously the biggest talking point. The two-time Finals MVP has said that he wants to compete in Los Angeles despite turning 39 before the Olympics. If healthy, KD would be chasing a record fifth Olympic gold medal, which would cement him as arguably the greatest Team USA player in history.
Stephen Curry is also a possibility. Although the Warriors superstar has stated that he might not play until 2028, he stopped short of officially ruling himself out.
The bigger picture is that Team USA is entering a rather difficult period. LeBron, Durant, and Curry have defined American basketball internationally for nearly two decades. By 2028, the responsibility will fully be on younger stars.
But still, LeBron represents a unique case. Even entering his 24th season, he continues to perform at an elite level and has shown that he can adapt his game at any age. Unlike earlier in his career, when he did everything himself, he no longer needs to dominate the scoring. Instead, his basketball IQ, playmaking, and leadership make him an ideal fit for FIBA basketball.
That experience could prove very important in a tournament where young stars would be making their first Olympic debut. LeBron’s presence could separate Team USA from the rest, especially with the rest of the world already catching up.
But Team USA isn’t asking LeBron to commit today. LeBron recently signed a two-year deal with the Sixers, so we know that he is most likely going to be playing till the end of the 2027-28 season. It would be very interesting to see if he decides to continue and add another Olympic run after those two seasons.
But Team USA’s message is pretty simple. If LeBron wants one final Olympic run in Los Angeles, the door is always open.
Whether LeBron chooses to return remains to be seen, and it could be one of the biggest storylines leading up to the 2028 Olympics. If he does, it would give basketball fans one last chance to watch one of the greatest international careers in basketball history come to an end on home soil.
