LeBron James will not likely play for Team USA this summer for the 2016 Rio Olympics after a long season that ended with an NBA title.
ESPN’s Marc Stein reports James as telling reporters during his victory parade with the Cleveland Cavaliers that he is leaning “no” for another go-round with the U.S. men’s basketball team.
LeBron James, meanwhile, told various reporters at the Cavs' championship parade that he's leaning "no" on the Olympics after a long season
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) June 23, 2016
We previously passed along a report which indicated the same thing a day after James and his teammates completed their arduous seven-game win over the Golden State Warriors.
But now that it’s coming from his own mouth it seems pretty clear that James is feeling the exhaustion that comes from reaching the NBA Finals six years in a row. Remember, he also played for Team USA during the 2012 Summer Games in London and participated in international play in the lead-up to it as well.
Simply put, there aren’t many people in the world who have played as much ball as James has the past six years.
At this time, he’s just reveling in the fact that he finally brought a championship back to Cleveland, where he is already committed to staying at least one more year to defend the title.
After being enveloped by a throng of people (estimated 1.3 million) yesterday at the victory parade, he is hosting an event in his hometown of Akron, Ohio, Thursday night.
We’re betting he goes into hibernation for a while after that. Probably somewhere warm.