There's No Guarantee LeBron James Plays in the 2020 Olympics at All
By Will Coleman
USA Basketball unveiled the 44 finalists with a chance to crack its roster for Tokyo 2020 on Tuesday, and to no one's surprise, that list included LeBron James.
The 35-year-old already has a pair of gold medals and could go for a third, but there's no certainty that LBJ suits for the national team this summer at all.
Instead of what would be his first Olympic appearance since 2012, James could again opt to sit out of the summer games for a few reasons.
LeBron James: My Participation In 2020 Olympics Based On Body, Family https://t.co/vFnsfAfT0Q
— RealGM (@RealGM) February 11, 2020
First and foremost, James has a deep playoff run in mind with the Los Angeles Lakers this season, which the article mentions affecting teammate Anthony Davis' status for the Olympics, too.
The reality is that another exhausting gauntlet for a gold medal probably isn't on LBJ's mind right now. The international competition is on the rise, and there are plenty of young, deserving American players working hard to make their first Olympic roster. Whenever LeBron makes his decision, it'll ultimately come down to his comfort with his body.
Lakers’ LeBron James on whether he will play for USA Basketball at 2020 Tokyo Olympics: “[I’ll weigh] how my body is feeling... I’m hoping to make a long playoff run. Then where my mind is and where my family’s head is. There’s a lot of factors but my name is in the hat.” pic.twitter.com/DfBB21Z4Hp
— Ben Golliver (@BenGolliver) February 11, 2020
Team USA will be the team to beat in Tokyo this summer, but James' decision to play or not play could set a precedent for other worn-out stars like Davis to do the same.