It comes after Team USA will announced their male team for the Games, leading to Dan Wolken to question whether James belongs on that team moments after he rushed to the defense of Clark precisely because of her global game.

“You have one opportunity every four years to present your sport to an international audience of people who don’t tune in regularly,” Wolken said on X.com, formerly Twitter. “By the way, we aren’t doing the current 12 best players on the men’s side either.

“Other factors matter. It’s absurd to leave her off. Is LeBron in 2024 one of the 12 American basketball players best equipped to bring home a gold medal?”

Fans slam Wolken’s comments

James isn’t really one of the first players one would expect to be told he isn’t good enough to win the Olympics, after all the 39-year-old is a four-time NBA Champion with four NBA Finals MVP awards and four NBA MVP accolades to his name. He’s clearly high pedigree.

Even if we don’t use historical data and focus on his 2023 form, he averaged 25.7 points per game, 7.3 rebounds per game and 8.3 assists per game so this isn’t like we’re dealing wish a washed pro who can’t cut it anymore. That’s what fans quickly reminded Wolken.

One fan replied, “”I think you’re vastly overrating the younger generation of American players. He very easily still clears Halliburton and arguments can be made for Book and Ant too.”

Whilst another added, “LeBron had an All-NBA season. And there’s quite a few foreign players amongst those 15. So yes he’s clearly a top 10 American player and deserves his spot on the team.”