LeBron James is checking every single box for the nickname Captain America at the 2024 Paris Olympics. In addition to leading Team USA to success and bearing the flag, he's seemingly playing with the super soldier serum coursing through his veins as a 39-year-old man out of time.
With James continuing to thrive on the international stage, an almost unrivaled legacy is receiving yet another boost from an all but inevitable dominant string of performances.
James paced the men's basketball team through the USA Basketball Showcase. At times, he even put the team on his back, dominating in the fourth quarter and stuffing the stat sheet in a way that fans have grown to expect—an unfair expectation that he always seems to live up to.
That's continued in Paris, as the Los Angeles Lakers star has utilized the Olympics as the platform to remind fans that he's still one of the best players in the world.
Team USA is hoping to win a record-extending 17th gold medal at the Olympics. James is going for number three as an individual, which projects to be yet another accolade on his legendary résumé.
James and Team USA got off to quite a start to that historic pursuit with a stellar showing against Serbia in the Olympic opener.
LeBron James' game-by-game performances at 2024 Paris Olympics
Group C: Serbia vs. Team USA - Team USA wins 110-84
James was nothing short of exceptional during Team USA's Olympic opener against Nikola Jokic and Serbia. He scored at will, paced the offense with his facilitating, crashed the boards as well as anyone on the court, and even defended at a solid level.
It looked like a challenging game early on, but after Kevin Durant dominated the first half, James did the same during the third and fourth quarters.
James finished the 110-84 victory over Serbia with 21 points, nine assists, seven rebounds, and a steal in just under 27 minutes of play. He shot 9-of-13 from the field, knocked down a three-point field goal, and buried both of his free throws.
Matched up against Jokic, James achieved some measure of personal vengeance for the 2023 and 2024 NBA Playoffs by taking over and leading Team USA to a 26-point win.
Group C: South Sudan vs. Team USA - Team USA wins 103-86
Team USA took the court for perhaps its most highly-anticipated game on Wednesday, July 31. South Sudan was off to a fantastic start to its first-ever appearance in the Olympics after defeating Puerto Rico 90-79 in its opening game.
Even more important than the fact that South Sudan was 1-0, however, was the fact that it pushed Team USA to the limit on July 20 during the USA Basketball Showcase.
Team USA managed to create a more comfortable margin this time around, with James providing 12 points, seven rebounds, five assists, and a steal in 21 minutes. The Americans won 103-86, a more aesthetically pleasing result than its narrow 101-100 escape on July 20, but the game was similarly competitive.
With James helping to pace the offense once again, Team USA got off to a 2-0 start at the Olympics and clinched its appearance in the elimination round.
Group C: Puerto Rico vs. Team USA - Team USA wins 104-83
Team USA concluded the group stage with a third consecutive double-digit victory. Ismael Romero stepped up with 20 points and 10 rebounds for Puerto Rico, but Anthony Edwards produced 26 points of his own to lead the Americans to the win.
While Edwards led the charge as a scorer, it was James who again filled up the box score with absurd production in Olympic action.
Despite playing just under 18 minutes against Puerto Rico, James finished with 10 points, eight assists, six rebounds, an offensive board, and a block. He continued to pace the Americans through games, handling the ball on a consistent basis and setting his teammates up at virtual will.
James also addressed the turnover concerns by coughing the ball up just once against Puerto Rico, setting an impressive pace for the remainder of the Olympics.
Quarterfinal: Brazil vs. Team USA - Team USA wins 122-87
Team USA is on to the semifinal after dominating Brazil en route to a 122-87 victory. As expected, James was nothing short of spectacular, facilitating the offense, scoring whenever he put his mind to it, and creating offense with his defense.
With 12 points, nine assists, three rebounds, and three steals on 5-of-6 shooting from the field, James continued to stuff the stat sheet at one of his most productive Olympics yet.
James played fewer than 17 minutes, yet managed to flirt with a double-double and take over the game. He found scorers in every imaginable scenario, generating 21 points with his assists and creating 33 overall on another tremendous day at the office.
At 39 years of age, James simply isn't slowing down—and now, Team USA is guaranteed to appear in a medal game at the 2024 Summer Olympics.
Semifinal: Serbia vs. Team USA - Team USA wins 95-91
In what was perhaps the best game of the Olympics thus far, Team USA came back to shock Serbia in the closing minutes. LeBron James continued to play a starring role, posting a triple-double and taking on the impossible task of defending Nikola Jokic.
With Stephen Curry shooting the lights out and Joel Embiid playing like an MVP, the Americans defeated Serbia in an instant classic.
James was nothing short of sensational, posting 16 points, 12 rebounds, 10 assists, and a steal in 32 minutes of play. Beyond his statistics, it was his willingness and ability to defend Jokic in the post, including several isolation possessions, that proved most valuable.
With the unmatched duo of Curry and James leading the charge, Team USA is one win away from another Olympic gold medal.
Gold Medal Game: France vs. Team USA - Team USA wins 98-87
With a 39-year-old LeBron James leading the charge, Team USA has reestablished its dominance on the international stage! In a thrilling, down-to-the-wire battle with France, the Americans emerged victorious and captured yet another Olympic gold medal.
Stephen Curry was otherworldly down the stretch, helping to put the finishing touches on what was already a stellar showing from James on a massive stage.
James finished the win over France with 14 points, 10 assists, six rebounds, two steals, and a block. He played 32 minutes, barely letting his shorts touch a chair along the bench as he shot the lights out and guided Team USA to an Olympic gold medal for the third time in his legendary career.
The end result: An Olympics MVP award to act as the icing on the cake of one of the most remarkable careers in not only NBA, but sports history.