James says gold is assured

LAS VEGAS – On the eve of tonight’s opening game for the U.S. men’s Olympic basketball team, an exhibition match against Canada at the Thomas & Mack Center, LeBron James said his squad will win the gold medal.

Not only did he say it, he guaranteed it.

“We don’t have any choice but to win the gold,” said James after the team’s final practice Thursday at Valley High School. “That’s what we are here for. I believe in our team and I believe in what we can do out there. Guarantee or however you want to look at, we want to win every game and that’s what we are looking forward to doing.”

Asked if he was concerned that his words might inspire the opposition, James shrugged off the suggestion.

His teammates’ reaction was lighthearted.

Asked what he thought of the guarantee, Jason Kidd said, “LeBron who?”

As James spoke, he was sitting in a chair that had been occupied by Dwyane Wade. When Wade returned and saw a crowd crammed into the area, he smiled and said, “If you guys don’t let me through, there’ll be trouble. I guarantee that.”

And the reaction of James’ coach, Mike Krzyzewski, to the guarantee?

“He can back it up,” Krzyzewski said. “If I said it, I couldn’t back it up.”

–

Steve Springer