The US basketball team led by superstar LeBron James are still one step away from the expected Olympic victory after a late comeback
Image: Keystone
France's super talent Victor Wembanyama is beside himself after reaching the final
Image: Keystone
Victor Wembanyama prevents Daniel Theis' basket
Image: Keystone
Stephen Curry was outstanding in the semi-final against Serbia
Image: Keystone
Kevin Durant is also part of the US star squad
Image: Keystone
The US basketball team led by superstar LeBron James are still one step away from the expected Olympic victory after a late comeback
Image: Keystone
France's super talent Victor Wembanyama is beside himself after reaching the final
Image: Keystone
Victor Wembanyama prevents Daniel Theis' basket
Image: Keystone
Stephen Curry was outstanding in the semi-final against Serbia
Image: Keystone
Kevin Durant is also part of the US star squad
Image: Keystone
The Olympic basketball final between the USA and France on Saturday evening is also a generational duel: LeBron James versus Victor Wembanyama.
LeBron James is a phenomenon. He turns 40 on December 30 and is the oldest active NBA player. Yet he is still one of the best. In February 2023, he replaced Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (38,387) as the best point scorer in NBA qualifying. He has now reached 40,474 points, and 48,636 points including playoffs. And this with a total of 1779 games, giving him an average of an incredible 27.34 points. In the regular season, James was the only player to score at least ten points in more than 1000 games in a row, the last time he did not score in double figures was on January 5, 2007.
Enough of the statistics. Because LeBron James is far more than just an avid point scorer. His consistency is no coincidence. He pays very close attention to his body. He tries out everything that helps him to improve. He calls in specialists to help him. He requires a personal coach to be available to him around the clock. After all, he may well want to train in the middle of the night.
However, he also leaves nothing to chance when it comes to sleep. He uses a meditation app to combat stress. According to his manager, he invests around 1.5 million dollars a year in his health. In addition to a large gym, his property is said to have a cold chamber and a hyperbaric cabin. Stretching is also a key focus for him. Despite his height of 2.06 m and weight of 113 kg, he is very agile.
Socially and politically committed
LeBron James is also known as "King James". Despite his success, he has never forgotten his origins. In 2004, he founded the "LeBron James Family Foundation". This enables him to provide education and equal opportunities for disadvantaged children in his home town of Akron. He is also politically active; he is one of the best-known voices in the Black Lives Matter movement. And he is an opponent of presidential candidate Donald Trump.
However, he is currently concentrating on basketball in Paris. In the final against France, the four-time NBA champion is aiming for his third Olympic victory after 2008 and 2012. "I'm 39, facing my 22nd season. I don't know how many more chances and moments there are to win a title and play great games," said James. With 16 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists, the billionaire played a key role in the USA winning the semi-final against Serbia despite trailing by 17 points at one stage. He is now the first player to achieve two triple-doubles at the Olympic Games. Another record.
Wembanyama amazes in first NBA season
Facing James on Saturday night will be 20-year-old Victor Wembanyama, who has been compared to the American superstar in terms of talent. The number 1 NBA draft pick in 2023 impressed in his rookie year in the best basketball league in the world. In most statistics, he has better values than James in his first NBA season. Despite his height of 2.24 m - his wingspan is an incredible 2.43 m - Wembanyama is extremely agile. This also comes into play on defense; he was voted the second-best defensive player in the league.
Wembanyama therefore seems to have a great future ahead of him. It remains to be seen whether his career will be as successful as James'. For now, however, it's all about Olympic gold and the question of who has the upper hand in the generational duel.
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