NBA superstar LeBron James rules out 2028 Olympic return, Stephen Curry doubtful
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Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James driving to the basket against Utah Jazz forward Kevin Love (No. 42), guard Ace Bailey (No. 19) and forward Kyle Anderson (No. 2) in the second quarter of the Lakers’ 140-126 NBA win at Crypto.com Arena on Nov 18, 2025.
PHOTO: IMAGN IMAGES
LOS ANGELES – LeBron James has ruled out playing in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and United States teammate Stephen Curry says he is highly unlikely to feature in the Games.
The basketball icons teamed up in a star-studded US line-up in 2024 to win gold at the Paris Olympics, defeating hosts France
But Los Angeles Lakers star James, who would be 43 by the time of the next Olympics, says there is no chance of a reunion.
Speaking on an episode of his Mind The Game podcast released on Nov 18, basketball great James told co-host Steve Nash he planned to watch the Olympics from afar.
“You already know my answer,” James told Nash, when asked if there was any chance of him returning for one last Olympic hurrah. “Don’t even ask. I will be watching from Cabo... I’m done.”
James won a bronze medal at the 2004 Games, before adding golds in 2008, 2012 and 2024.
Golden State Warriors star Curry, who also appeared on the episode, was not as definitive but said he doubted he would be part of the US campaign.
“It is the opposite answer of what I told him last year,” Curry said, referring to the conversation he had with James when he was recruited to the Paris team.
“It was like, God willing, I still have the choice and the physical option to be like, I could actually impact the team. Never say never, but I highly doubt it.”
Curry will be 40 when the Los Angeles Games roll around.
The guard was one of the stars of the victorious American Olympic campaign in 2024, scoring 24 points – including a flurry of three-pointers – in the 98-87 final win.
He averaged a team-best 14.8 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 23.3 minutes.
Curry did not feature in the Olympics until 2024 in Paris, not playing in previous Games either because of injuries or long post-season runs with Golden State.
“We can’t top what we just did,” James added. “We can’t top that... We literally played France in Paris in the final.”
In on-court action in the National Basketball Association (NBA), James made a winning start to his NBA-record 23rd season on Nov 18, returning after a near one-month injury absence in the Lakers’ 140-126 home victory over the Utah Jazz.
The 40-year-old missed the Lakers’ first 14 games of the season with sciatica but was quickly back into his rhythm before finishing with 11 points, 12 assists and three rebounds.
He told ESPN: “It’s been rough mentally for me – this is the first time I’ve started a basketball season and not played since I’ve started playing basketball, like nine years old. I’ve never missed the beginning of a basketball season.”
There was still time for James to bring up another milestone, his two three-pointers taking him past Reggie Miller for sixth place on the NBA’s all-time regular-season three-pointers list.
Luka Doncic, who led the Lakers scoring with 37 points, welcomed James’ return to the line-up as the team improved to 11-4.
“It’s been a long time since he played basketball, so I think for the first game back, he looked amazing,” the Slovenian said. “He’s gonna keep getting his rhythm and he’s gonna help us a lot.”
Lakers coach J.J. Redick added: “Just thought he played with the right spirit. Very unselfish all night. Was a willing passer, didn’t force it, took his drives and his shots when they were there... He made a lot of great decisions tonight. Really good to have him back.”
Doncic was backed with 26 points from Austin Reaves, with Deandre Ayton adding 20.
Utah led by 11 points during the second quarter but were blown away in the third, as the Lakers poured in 37 points to open up a sizeable double-digit lead heading into the final frame.
Elsewhere, Desmond Bane scored 23 points and reserve Anthony Black added 21 to lead the Orlando Magic over visiting Golden State 121-113.
Curry led the Warriors with 34 points, while Jimmy Butler added 33 in a losing cause.
Meanwhile, the Detroit Pistons stretched their longest winning streak since 2008 to 11 games with a 120-112 victory in Atlanta, snapping the Hawks’ five-game winning streak.
The Pistons, who lead the Eastern Conference at 13-2, got 25 points and 10 assists from Cade Cunningham and 24 points with eight rebounds from Jalen Duren.
Jalen Johnson sparked Atlanta (9-6) with 25 points, eight rebounds and nine assists.
AFP, REUTERS
