Team USA vote LeBron James as their male flagbearer at Olympic opening ceremony

James has been selected by his fellow U.S. Olympians to serve as their male flag bearer during the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics on Friday night. He will become the third basketball player — and the first male player — to carry the U.S. flag at the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games, joining Dawn Staley for the 2004 Athens Games and Sue Bird for the last Summer Games in Tokyo.

“It’s an incredible honor to represent the United States on this world stage, especially at a time that can bring the entire world together,” James said. “As a kid from Akron, this responsibility means everything, not just to me, but to my family, all the kids in my hometown, my teammates, fellow Olympians and so many people across the country with big aspirations. Sports has the power to bring us all together, and I’m proud to be a part of this important moment.”

The 39-year-old was notified of the honor in London on Monday, hours before the U.S. men’s national team was scheduled to play its final practice match in preparation for the Olympics against Germany.

Stephen Curry, James’ longtime on-court rival and Olympic debutant, nominated James for the role of flag bearer.

“We understand what an honor it is to be in that position and I think Bron’s entire career, on and off the court, speaks for itself, because he deserves that honor,” Curry, who voted on behalf of the U.S. men’s basketball team, said in the nomination video. “He has exemplified what it means to be outstanding both on and off the court in his dedication to service and uplifting the community in all the ways that he knows is a lifelong passion. And the work speaks for itself.”

The female U.S. flag bearer is expected to be announced Tuesday. The International Olympic Committee decided in 2020 that national delegations would have two flag bearers — one male, one female — at the opening ceremonies, a move aimed at promoting gender equality. The U.S. team is expected to have nearly 600 athletes at the Paris Games, 53 percent of whom will be women.

“Being selected by your teammates to carry the flag is a tremendous honor — and a testament to LeBron’s passion for Team USA and his dedication to his sport,” said Sarah Hirshland, CEO of the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee.

James, a four-time NBA champion and the league’s all-time leading scorer who is entering his 22nd NBA season, will be making his fourth Olympic appearance. He was part of the U.S. teams that won bronze in 2004, gold in Beijing in 2008 and gold again in London in 2012.

This will be an opening ceremony like no other. Thousands of athletes will be part of a flotilla sailing down the Seine River at sunset toward the Eiffel Tower. It’s a 3.7-mile route, with some 320,000 guests watching from the riverbank and a billion others, Olympic officials estimate, watching on television around the world.

James and the U.S. Olympians will have to wait longer than almost any other country to make their journey across the Seine. Following IOC custom, Greece — which will have NBA star Giannis Antetokounmpo as one of its two flag bearers — will lead the procession, followed by the Refugee Olympic team and then some 200 other national delegations. The U.S. is expected to be the second-to-last in the procession, since Los Angeles is scheduled to host the next Summer Games in 2028.

France, as hosts, will be the final nation in the opening ceremony. Their men’s basketball team, featuring reigning NBA Rookie of the Year Victor Wembanyama, plays their opening game on Saturday and is not expected to attend the opening ceremony.