Paul Pierce expects Lakers superstar LeBron James to return for the USA team ahead of the 2024 Olympics in Paris

Former Boston Celtics legend Paul Pierce feels LeBron James will be active for Team USA next season and may feature in the 2026 Paris Olympics. LeBron last played for the national team in the 2012 London Olympics where USA won the gold medal.

In a recent episode of Kevin Garnett Certified’s Ticket and the Truth podcast on Showtime Basketball, Pierce shares his thought about his long-term rival to represent the USA again next year in the 2024 Paris Olympics.

“I really think LeBron is going to go,” Pierce said. “I think LeBron will be there. This will be his final Olympics … I think he’ll go to the Olympics.”

If the Lakers superstar decides to suit up for Team USA again, he will have an opportunity to win the gold medal again next year. It will allow him to surpass Michael Jordan’s gold medal tally. Both the players have two Olympic medals till now, while LeBron has also won the bronze medal in Athens Olympics.

However many believe that LeBron has retired from international basketball a decade ago. NBA Insider Marc J. Spears reported in 2013 that the superstar won’t return to the Olympics ever again.

“I really think LeBron is going to go,” Pierce said. “I think LeBron will be there. This will be his final Olympics … I think he’ll go to the Olympics.”

LeBron did not feature for USA in the 2016 Rio Olympics and also missed the 2020 Tokyo Olympics which was held a year later due to the pandemic. The four-time NBA champion toils hard at the age of 38 during the season for the Lakers and offseason is the only time he gets with his family. So it looks very unlikely that LeBron will suit up for Team USA again for the upcoming Paris Olympics next year.

LeBron spent the early part of the off-season with his family, visiting France. However, things changed very fast when Bronny James went into cardiac arrest on July 24. While Bronny has recovered quickly from the incident, LeBron since then has taken extra care of him. So his return to Team USA next year looks very unlikely.