LeBron James to skip playing for Team USA in Rio Olympics

Fresh off his third NBA championship, LeBron James will sit out this year’s Olympic Games and not go for a third gold medal.

For the last two Summer Olympic games in Beijing and London, LeBron James has been a part of the USA Men’s Basketball team that has won back-to-back gold medals for the country. After winning his third NBA title this past season with an epic seven game series victory for the Cleveland Cavaliers, the question was if he would return to play for America in Brazil this August.

According to Cleveland.com, that answer is simple … no:

"LeBron James informed USA Basketball that he would not participate in the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro in August, citing the glut of court time he’s logged through six consecutive trips to the Finals.“I could use the rest,” James told cleveland.com."

At the age of 31, this means that we have likely seen our last of LeBron wearing a uniform that says USA on it in a competition. In international play, he has two gold medals mentioned earlier to go with two bronze medals (one each from the 2004 Olympics and the 2006 FIBA World Championships).

The Rio Olympics are turning out to be a question about who will actually play for both Team USA and other powers. While you can buy James’ reason of being tired following a long, hard series, others have said they don’t want to risk their health with the Zika virus that has athletes from different sports and countries across the world pulling out of the games.

James, according to the article, is not choosing to sit out the Games due to the virus and did consider playing in what will be the final Olympics coached by legendary Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski.

For more Rio Olympics news, check out our Olympics hub page.