NBA superstar LeBron James was forced to leave the court during Team USA’s Olympic basketball quarterfinal against Brazil after taking a painful elbow to the face. The incident occurred midway through the third quarter of the game, which the United States ultimately won 122-87 to advance to the semifinals.
James, 39, was defending against a Brazilian fast break when he was struck by guard Georginho De Paula’s elbow as the latter tipped in a missed layup by teammate Leo Meindl. The Los Angeles Lakers forward immediately fell to the floor, grimacing in pain and covering his eye.
Team USA’s athletic trainer quickly attended to the four-time NBA champion, with Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid also checking on his teammate before helping him to his feet. Television cameras captured James on the bench, still in visible discomfort and holding a towel to his affected eye.
Reports from courtside indicated that James was escorted to the locker room for further evaluation. Although he did not return to play, James later emerged from the locker room, seemingly in better spirits. As chants of “LeBron” echoed through the arena, the NBA legend acknowledged the crowd, waving and playfully mimicking his signature “crown” gesture, a nod to his “King James” moniker.
Despite the early exit, James contributed significantly to Team USA’s victory, finishing with 12 points, nine assists, three rebounds, and three steals. Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker led the American scoring with 18 points, while Brazil’s Bruno Caboclo put up an impressive 30 points in a losing effort.
The game also saw Kevin Durant reach a significant milestone, becoming USA Basketball’s all-time leading Olympic scorer. Durant’s 11 points off the bench were enough to surpass WNBA legend Lisa Leslie’s record, which had stood since the 2004 Athens Games.
With this victory, Team USA advances to face Serbia in the Olympic semifinals on Thursday. The other semifinal will feature host nation France against Germany, in a rematch of their pool play encounter which France won 85-71.
As the tournament progresses, all eyes will be on James’ recovery and his potential availability for the crucial semifinal matchup. The incident serves as a reminder of the physical nature of Olympic basketball and the risks faced by high-profile athletes participating in the Games.
The men’s basketball final is scheduled for Saturday, with Team USA aiming to secure yet another gold medal in a sport they have historically dominated. However, with strong competition from European powers and the uncertainty surrounding James’ condition, the path to gold may prove more challenging than in previous years.
