King James’ future with the Lakers remains to be seen, after his unexpected elimination in the playoffs.

LeBron James dunking the ball wearing the official Team USA shorts.Instagram, @kingjames.

After four years of absence, LeBron James returned to wear the official uniform of the USA Basketball Team. As soon as he wore the national team’s colors, King James sent a clear warning to the rest of the teams that would compete in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

The Los Angeles Lakers star forward has been a mainstay of Team USA for more than 20 years. In that time, he has won two Olympic golds and a world championship. The only thorns in his career are the bronze medals in Athens 2024 and the 2006 World Championships.

At Tokyo 2020, LeBron led the US team to gold by beating France in the final. After that, James focused on his NBA career, and the team was left a bit adrift, having to settle for third place in the 2023 FIBA World Cup.

Now, while he decides whether or not he will stay with the Lakers, “King James” has returned to the national team and does not plan to let Olympic gold slip away.

The King goes for the crownThis Tuesday, James posted a carousel of photos on Instagram, showing him wearing the official Team USA shorts, his unique glow-in-the-dark sneakers, and a bandana. However, what stands out is the simple but powerful message that accompanies the images: the crown emoji.

In the images, you can see James shirtless, showing off an enviable physique and making some shots to the basket, including a spectacular dunk in a closed gym. He is accompanied by several people who observe the King’s practice.

It was not necessary to add anything else. LeBron’s fans understood him instantly, showering him with praise and cheering him on to the championship in Paris. “Get that gold GOAT,” “Olympic medal loading,” “LeTeam USA is gonna be a MOVIE,” “Paris ain’t ready,” and “It’s time to get GOLD” were just some of the comments the post received.

Team USA in Paris 2024

USA Basketball announced the roster for the upcoming Olympic Games at the end of April. The team includes James, Stephen Curry, Anthony Edwards, Kawhi Leonard, and Joel Embiid, among others, under the direction of Steve Kerr.

The team will play the first round in Group C, which also includes Serbia, South Sudan, and Puerto Rico. James and Co. will play their first match on July 28 against Serbia. The team will almost certainly advance to the knockout stage as the best from the group stage and is the heavy favorite to take Olympic gold once again.