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Video: Lakers' LeBron James Talks 'Amazing' Day 1 of USA Camp Before 2024 Olympics

Julia Stumbaugh

LeBron James said he had an "amazing" first day of USA Basketball men's Olympic team camp ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics.

"I felt like it was important for this summer to be able to go out there and play with the rest of the guys. Playing with Team USA has always been extremely fun," James said Saturday, per NBA reporter Mark Medina.

James has represented Team USA at three prior Olympics and was part of the squad that won gold at the 2008 Beijing Games and 2012 London Olympics.

James was also on the bronze medal team that suffered the first Olympic loss by an American team staffed by NBA players during the 2004 Athens Games.

"I know '04 was it's own, right, but ever since we kind of started to get the things back on, and [Jerry Colangelo] and [Mike Krzyzewski] and everybody kind of setting the whole precedent back in order, it's been extremely fun," James said.

"It started with Jerry and Coach K, and we're just trying to keep it going."

James then praised Team USA's current coaching staff of the Golden State Warriors' Steve Kerr, Miami Heat's Erik Spoelstra, LA Clippers' Tyronn Lue and Gonzaga's Mark Few.

Players began arriving to Las Vegas Thursday, and practice began Saturday, as part of a the training camp leading up to Team USA's exhibition opener against Canada, Tim Reynolds reported for the Associated Press.

The Olympic team, coached by Kerr, will feature James for the first time since 2012.

Other Olympic returners include Bam Adebayo, Anthony Davis, Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, Jrue Holiday and Jayson Tatum, while Steph Curry, Anthony Edwards, Joel Embiid, Tyrese Haliburton and Kawhi Leonard will be making their first appearance at the games.

Which five players will start when the competition's group phase kicks off on July 28 against Serbia has not yet been decided, Kerr said Saturday (h/t Reynolds), but assuming James will be out there for the launch of Team USA's bid for a fifth straight gold medal seems like a safe bet.

   

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