It’s no secret Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James is pursuing the GOAT title away from Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan. For Kendrick Perkins, though, the former is doing just that in his pursuit of another Olympic gold medal to beat His Airness in that category.
James has represented the United States national team on multiple occasions throughout his illustrious career. As a 19-year-old rookie in 2004, James made his debut for Team USA at the Athens Olympics.
In the 2006 FIBA World Championship, James took on a greater role, averaging 13.9 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game as co-captain. At the Beijing Olympics, Team USA went unbeaten, winning the gold medal, with James contributing 14 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists in the final game.
James did not play in the 2010 FIBA World Championship but rejoined Team USA for the 2012 Olympics in London, where he led Team USA. He recorded the first triple-double in U.S. Olympic basketball history and contributed 19 points in the gold medal victory.
At the age of 39, James returned to the national team for the 2024 Paris Olympics, where he was named as one of the two Team USA flag-bearers for the opening ceremony, becoming the first male basketball player to be so honored.
NBA Analyst Kendrick Perkins Says LeBron James Is Trying To Beat Michael Jordan’s Gold Medal Count
From the way things are going, James’ current Olympic run may be the last of his career. For sports analyst Kendrick Perkins, the Lakers star may be trying to beat Jordan’s medal count, as seen in a video shared by NBA on ESPN’s official X account.
“If LeBron James can get one up on [Michael Jordan] in that category, you best believe he’s going to do everything in his power to do that.”🏅 @KendrickPerkins says LeBron is trying to break his tie with Michael Jordan’s two gold Olympic medals 👀 pic.twitter.com/1c1V7HGsVR
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) July 22, 2024
In 1992, Jordan was part of the legendary Dream Team that won gold at the Barcelona Olympics. The Bulls legend was undefeated in his four international tournaments, winning all 30 games he played.
It remains to be seen whether James can surpass Jordan in this area of the sport. In any case, Team USA will soon attempt to bring the gold home once again once the Olympics in Paris start soon.
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