After winning all of their exhibition matches, Team USA finally played their first game against Nikola Jokic and Serbia at the Paris Olympics this year. Before the contest started, though, Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James admitted the reason why he felt nervous on the court.
In the opening game of the 2024 Paris Olympics, the United States men’s basketball team dominated Serbia with a convincing 110-84 victory. Led by James and Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant, Team USA showcased their offensive firepower, with the latter scoring 23 points on an efficient 8-of-9 shooting performance, while the Lakers star added 21 points, nine assists, and seven rebounds.
The game started with Serbia jumping out to an early 10-2 lead, prompting US coach Steve Kerr to call a quick timeout. However, the Americans quickly regained control, with James and Durant leading the charge. The duo combined to shoot 18-of-22 from the field, setting the tone for the team’s dominance.
Jrue Holiday (15 points), Devin Booker (12 points), and Anthony Edwards and Stephen Curry (11 points each) also made important contributions to the victory. Team USA’s three-point shooting was a notable strength, outscoring Serbia 54-27 from beyond the arc.
Reigning World Cup silver medalist Serbia was led by three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic, who scored 20 points in the losing effort. Team USA’s defensive intensity and superior firepower proved too much for their opponents, as they improved to 6-0 this summer and 1-0 in the highly anticipated Olympic tournament.
The Reason Why Team USA’s LeBron James Was Nervous Before Game Against Serbia in the Olympics
After the game, James answered a few questions from the media. In an article written by Aris Barkas for Eurohoops, the four-time NBA champion revealed why he was nervous before they took on Jokic and the Serbian team.
“You know, sitting there, listening to our national anthem, listening to the fans cheer, definitely got me a little nervous,” he admitted after the game. “My stomach, the butterflies came out. It was different, you know, and even for me, we played in front of a lot of people. It was just a different atmosphere, but we were able to get to them.”
Even at 39 years old, James is still playing at an elite level and much better than players almost half his age. Last season, he averaged 25.7 points on 41 percent shooting from deep, 7.3 rebounds, 8.3 assists, and 1.3 steals per game. It was also the first time in years James played more than 67 games in a single season.
With Team USA getting their first win in the Olympics, James has little reason to be nervous in the coming days. If all go according to plan, the Lakers superstar and Team USA can bring home the gold soon.
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