Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James headlines the 44-man preliminary Team USA roster for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
However, despite being the marquee name on the list, the Lakers star has yet to make an official decision on whether he will banner the flag this summer. The King shared the factors that will go into his decision process, via Melissa Rohlin of Sports Illustrated:
“My name is in the hat and it’s always predicated on: one; my body, how my body is feeling at the end of the season — I hope to make a long playoff run,” James said. “And then where my mind is and then where my family’s head is. So, it’s a lot of factors but my name is in the hat.”
No real surprises here. After Team USA's early exit in last year's FIBA World Cup, James already said he would love to suit up for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. However, he also did not make any commitments considering the long grind of the 82-game NBA season along with the even more grueling postseason run the Lakers are hoping to make.
Those factors are understandable considering James' age. LeBron turned 35 year old last December and is still playing nearly 35 minutes a night in his 17th NBA season. What makes him even more amazing is that he continues to play at a high level, with averages of 24.8 points, 7.7 rebounds, and a career-high 10.7 assists for the Lakers this season.
With James and the Lakers expecting to go on a deep run in the playoffs, with the hopes, of course, of going all the way to the mountaintop, you can only imagine how beaten and battered James' 35-year old body will be at that point.
Likewise, considering LeBron is in the final stretch of his career, it might be better for the Lakers star to rest during the offseason to extend his career as one of the elite players in the league.
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