The US team is led by coach Steve Kerr, and is considered the strongest candidate in the 2023 FIBA World Cup.
However, this year’s US team was once again underestimated by the home fans, because the US team lacked top stars. Veterans like LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant or Kawhi Leonard all refused to join the team.
For a long time, American fans have not seen a team full of stars like the times of Kobe Bryant, Carmelo Anthony or Dwyane Wade.
So, why don’t LeBron James and other stars play at the FIBA World Cup 2023?
LeBron James first played for Team USA with Allen Iverson, Tim Duncan, Ben Wallace and won a bronze medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics.
Lebron was also present and won a bronze medal with the US team at the 2006 FIBA World Cup, a tournament that Spain won. That was the only time James appeared at the FIBA World Cup.
At the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Lebron finally won the gold medal. Four years later, at the London Olympics, King James once again brought gold to the US team. That was also the last time the 38-year-old star played for the national team.
After that, James refused to join the US team to attend the 2016 Rio De Janeiro Olympics. The reason he gave was that he needed more time to rest after a long season with the Cleveland Cavaliers, culminating in the NBA championship for the third time. 3 in career.
Four years later, the US team did not invite Lebron to attend the Tokyo Olympics, but the Lakers superstar expressed that he did not care about that.
LeBron James, 38 years old, has devoted all his attention to the goal of conquering the NBA championship instead of fighting with the US team. That’s why James repeatedly refused to play for the team. And perhaps the 2012 London Olympics was the last time fans saw him in the US team shirt.