LeBron James is participating in USA Basketball’s minicamp this week in Las Vegas as a precursor to the 2016 Olympics and says his health and family will determine whether he decides to commit to playing in Rio next year.
James worked out with the assembled players in Vegas but won’t participate in an intrasquad exhibition game on Thursday because of a previous commitment. His presence satisfied a requirement from USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo that any player hoping to be considered for the 2016 Games show up this week.
“I’m not penciling it in, as of now, for next summer,” James said. “But this is the start of the process for all of us. There’s 34 guys here. When you’re a part of Team USA, you represent your country, this is all a part of the process.
“I’ve given everything to the NBA. I’ve given it all to USAB as well. If I’m fortunate enough, if I’m healthy enough and my family is willing to allow me be a part of it, it’d be great. … We’ll see where I’m at after the season.”
The Cleveland Cavaliers star has played in three Olympics and won two gold medals along with Carmelo Anthony and Chris Paul. The three could become the first three-time gold medalists, and James and Anthony would be the first in U.S. men’s basketball history to play in four Olympics.
“All my decisions go through my family. We’ll see how my family feels about it,” James said. “And then with my health, going another NBA campaign season, as far as my team back home in Cleveland, and I’ll go from there.”
As for Paul and Anthony playing again, James expects it to be a joint decision between the three friends.
“Pretty much everything that we do, for the most part, especially with Team USA, we kind of do together,” James said. “We’ll see what happens.”