LeBron James hasn’t represented Team USA in international play since the 2012 Olympics, and that won’t change this fall. With USA Basketball looking to bring home gold at the 2019 World Cup in China, James confirms to Joe Vardon of The Athletic that he won’t be participating in that event.
“I love everything about Pop (Team USA head coach Gregg Popovich), obviously, but this is not a good summer for me,” James said.
As Vardon notes, despite the fact that James’ summer will be longer than expected now that the Lakers have failed to qualify for the postseason, that won’t change the four-time MVP’s plans. The production schedule of Space Jam 2 is one key factor that will prevent LeBron from being available for this year’s World Cup, which takes place at the start of September.
Still, James hasn’t ruled out the possibility of rejoining Team USA for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. Having previously won a pair of gold medals for USA Basketball in Beijing (2008) and London (2012), LeBron is leaving the door open for one more Olympic run.
“Yeah, that’s a possibility,” LeBron told Vardon. “It depends on how I feel. I love the Olympics.”
Here’s more from James, via Vardon:
- After appearing in eight straight NBA Finals and then missing the postseason this year, James isn’t pretending this summer will just be business as usual. He tells Vardon that he likes the fact that he’s feeling “uncomfortable” heading into this offseason: “I like being counted out. It motivates me.”
- Having been shut down for the remainder of the season, LeBron tells Vardon that he’d like to still be playing, but he’s willing to defer to the Lakers’ decision-makers and the people around him. “I’ve always listened to the ones I trust, no matter if I always agreed with them or not,” James said. “They’re looking out for my best interest, and that’s the way it is.”
- While LeBron will be busy with Space Jam 2 and other projects this summer, he’s also considering how a two-month head start to the offseason will impact his workout plans as he looks to stay in shape for 2019/20. “I’ve had basically the same offseason training regimen the last eight years,” he said. “I knew how long I wanted to rest for the season on a short timeline. I’m figuring out now how to get as much as I can out of two months of extra time for training. It requires a totally different strategy. We’re looking at it in an entirely new way.”
just go home!
agreed I hate when players just brush off representing the USA . I mean yea he’s old now but it’s been 7 years since his last time playing he was in his 20s then later 20s but still he has been sitting and u know what he’s not needed and I’d rather not see him in a uniform for the US I’d rather see guys who to play for the team
He’s done enough. Time for the younger guys to step up
His last chance to win some sort of championship LOL
” I like being counted out, it motivates me”. You are out, how is that for motivation?Goat! Hilarious.
Well according to Jordan fans, not making the finals is better than losing in it, so I guess he’s better off
Mike never lost a finals
That’s what I’m saying. Everyone gets on lebron for losing in the finals, but ignore the fact that while jordan is 6/6 he missed the finals completely every other year. I don’t see how that’s a good argument for Jordan fans. I’m not a big lebron goat person, but I think it’s a bad argument from the Jordan side
I get it. However, don’t forget if Mike wasn’t thrown out of the league for 2 years, he would have won 8 in a row.
HaHaHaHaHa!!! Oh brother you are sooo funny!!!
He’s not trying to be funny.
Looking back when he broke into the league he sounded like a nice humble person kid that you wanted to see become the next great icon. Somewhere along the line he just became a dink and a fraud on so many levels. And he’s not a closer with that killer instinct.
Lebrun has so many miles on those legs this long off season could be a blessing in disguise. However, I still don’t think at his age he can carry the load alone. Even MJ needed a team around him to win the last few championships. Lebrun’s Rule & Run could be over.
LBJ thing is to try and buy rings as he had heat spend tons of money then had cav dk same thing and bring him who he wanted . look at MJ he didn’t tell his owner to go out and buy a ring he played with good and bad players and he was asked is he could play with players but he never had his owners go and buy rings
or try to buy em
AGREE that’s why MJ be da GOAT
No one cares, LeBron.
Not sure if he really had any interest in playing the regular NBA season this year.
Lebron WHO?:) move over here comes ZION
The fans obsessed with Jordan vs LBJ are such dorks. No one really cares.