Before leading the U.S. team to the gold medal and being named the Most Valuable Player of the men’s Olympic tournament, LeBron James made history by becoming the first male basketball player to carry the American flag at the opening ceremony. The three-time gold medalist stood at the front of the boat transporting the U.S. athletes, resulting in an iconic photo that Josh Hart loves.
In the latest episode of The Roommate Show, Knicks star and teammate Jalen Brunson spoke about the incredible image. The guard hilariously claimed that it wasn’t James waving the flag, but his alter ego “Captain LeMerica.” Hart went even further and joked that the Lakers superstar looked like an explorer looking for new lands. The veteran striker said:
“(LeBron James’) face when he held the flag, bro? It really looked like the man was out there, like he was on a conquest to discover America or something, bro! I’m going to tell my kids that was Christopher Columbus!”
While Hart enjoyed his joke, Brunson didn’t seem to appreciate it much, rolling his eyes at his Knicks teammate. While the duo poked fun at James, both players are well aware of the significance of his performance.
Some of the greatest players in the history of the sport have represented the U.S. team in the Olympics. Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan and several other first-ballot Hall of Fame inductees have played for the United States in the Summer Games.
However, James was the first male basketball player to ever receive the honor of being America’s flag bearer. It is a testament to his greatness and how much he is revered in his nation. The three-time Olympic gold medalist knew how special it was to be chosen for the task. When asked for his thoughts, he said:
“It’s special to get the opportunity to represent your country and to understand in a different way how prestigious it is when someone is a flag bearer and waves the flag not only for us as the men’s national team, but for all of the Olympic Games. For me, that’s the greatest honor.”
James knew his responsibility and turned it into an iconic moment. The image of him waving the flag and leading the USA charge at the Paris Olympics will be remembered forever.
