Paris Olympics: LeBron James inspires USA to win vs. Germany in final warm-up game


LeBron James displayed his legendary skills once again ahead of the Paris Olympics, leading the US men’s basketball team to a hard-fought 92-88 victory over World Cup champion Germany. Monday night’s game in London served as a final warm-up before the Olympic Games begin later this week. James, who was announced as the male flag bearer for the United States at the opening ceremony along the Seine River on Friday night, delivered an electrifying performance. He scored the final 11 points for the Americans, sealing their victory in a thrilling closing moments. The feat mirrored his earlier clutch performance, where his decisive layup against South Sudan ensured a 101–100 win.

“It was a good test for us. And I’m glad we were able to, you know, keep our composure again, like we did against South Sudan the other day,” James said. “It was a good win for us.” James finished with 20 points, supported by Joel Embiid’s 15 points, Stephen Curry’s 13 and Anthony Edwards’ 11. For Germany, Franz Wagner led the way with 18 points, while Andreas Obst, Dennis Schröder, Daniel Thies and Moritz Wagner contributed significantly. . The victory marked the end of a challenging exhibition slate for the USA, who finished 5-0 despite several close calls. Canada, Australia, South Sudan and Germany all tested the Americans, but each time they were able to persevere, largely thanks to James’ leadership.

With the Paris Games approaching, the US team, buoyed by their recent performance, is ready to take on the world. “We each have experience,” Curry said. “Now obviously it’s a matter of showing up next week when the lights go on. I think we’re ready. I think we’re ready. Now we just have to perform.” Despite the win, the US team faced challenges, especially from beyond the arc. Germany outscored them 39-18 from 3-point range, a trend that was also seen in their game against South Sudan. Additionally, turnovers proved costly, with the United States committing seven of Germany’s 14

In retrospect, last year’s World Cup loss to Germany was a turning point, inspiring key players like James to join the US program for the run to the Paris Olympics. Although Kevin Durant, recovering from a calf strain, has yet to play in the pre-Olympic exhibition, his presence remains a potential game-changer for the upcoming competition. With their eyes on continuing their Olympic gold streak, the US men’s basketball team is set to face Serbia in their first Olympic game this Sunday, kicking off what promises to be an exciting trip to Paris.

Published by:

Sourav Kumar

Published by:

July 23, 2024



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