Will LeBron James play against Serbia in Paris 2024 Olympic semifinals after receiving stitches?
There were concerns about Team USA’s star after what seemed to be a nasty elbow to the face during the Americans’ quarterfinal win, but he appears to be OK.
Now that Team USA has secured a place in the semi-finals of the basketball tournament of the 2024 Olympics in Paris, it will undoubtedly be a case of all hands on deck as they look to win yet another gold medal. With the news surrounding their iconic captain, they’ll be that much more convinced they can follow through.
Is LeBron James OK?
If you caught, Team USA’s convincing 122-87 win against Brazil in the Olympic quarterfinals, you would have undoubtedly seen the moment when LeBron James was forced to leave the court after taking an elbow to the head. Indeed, James appeared to be bleeding from above the eye before making his way to the locker room to receive treatment from the team’s medical staff.
Of course, the positive news is that it appears to be nothing serious. Speaking after the game, head coach Steve Kerr offered an update on James’s status, indicating that the 39-year-old received four stitches as a result of the inadvertent blow to the face. While it’s true that James didn’t play another minute in the game after his exit in the third quarter, he did return to the bench during the fourth quarter as the Americans booked their ticket to the semifinals.
Regarding James’ performance on the night, in a total of 17 minutes the 39-year-old notched 12 points, nine assists, three rebounds, and three steals. Overall, James was one of the six players who scored in double figures en route to leading the team in assists as well. Where context is concerned, this is the Lakers star’s fourth Olympic games and almost certainly his last which is a testament to the longevity of not just his career but his ability.
Consider that James has started every game so far for the tournament and will assumedly start in the semifinals when they face a Nikola Jokic-led Serbia. Given that Team USA beat the Serbians in a pre-Olympic warm-up game as well as in their opening game of the tournament, James and Co. will be confident they can go three-for-three. Whatever the case, the two sides will meet on Thursday. Don’t miss it!