LeBron James is in Las Vegas for the USA Basketball mini-camp. He’s not just making a token appearance and then heading off to Tao, rather he put on the No. 27 jersey — no headband — and worked on his low-post game. By the way, former Pelicans coach Monty Williams can’t really check him down there. Shocking.
So does that mean LeBron is in for a USA Basketball record fourth Olympics next summer in Rio.
That decision has yet to be made, he told Ben Golliver of Sports Illustrated.
LeBron James: family, health, Cavs season will impact 2016 Rio Olympics decision. "I'm not penciling in for next summer right now."
— Ben Golliver (@BenGolliver) August 12, 2015
The Cavaliers are the clear favorites to come out of the East and make it to the NBA Finals — that would be six straight NBA Finals appearances for LeBron. He is already ninth on the NBA’s all-time minutes list (counting regular season, playoffs and international play) and by the time next summer rolls around he’s likely seventh.
If he wants to beg off next summer, you can’t blame him (it’s not like he hasn’t made a commitment to USA Basketball and won a couple golds already).
But he will get pressure from Nike, plus a third gold (something nobody else has in basketball) would become part of his legacy.
There’s a lot to think about, but no reason to think about it until next spring and summer. You can be sure Coach Mike Krzyzewski is not giving away his roster spot.
