LeBron James faced backlash on social media after Team USA opted to leave Caitlin Clark out of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. A USA Today reporter didn’t hold back in criticizing the Los Angeles Lakers’ star.
The decision to exclude the top pick of the 2024 WNBA Draft sparked outrage from fans, commentators, and her family. The rationale provided by the executives was their concern over her star power and its potential effects.
This controversy arose as Team USA announced their male roster for the Games, prompting Dan Wolken to question James’ inclusion, especially after he defended Clark for her global appeal.
“You get one shot every four years to showcase your sport to a global audience unfamiliar with it,” Wolken remarked on X.com, formerly known as Twitter. “Also, we aren’t even selecting the current top 12 male players.
“Other factors are at play. It’s ludicrous to omit her. Is LeBron in 2024 genuinely among the top 12 American basketball players capable of securing a gold medal?”
Fans Respond to Wolken’s Critique
James isn’t typically someone you’d expect to hear isn’t fit for the Olympics. The 39-year-old boasts four NBA Championships, four NBA Finals MVPs, and four NBA MVP titles, proving his elite status.
Even based on his 2023 performance alone, he averaged 25.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 8.3 assists per game, showing he’s far from a washed-up veteran. Fans were quick to remind Wolken of this.
One fan responded, “I think you’re overestimating the younger American players. He still easily outshines Halliburton, and you can argue he’s better than Book and Ant too.”
Another added, “LeBron had an All-NBA season. With several foreign players in those top 15, he’s clearly a top 10 American player and rightfully deserves his spot on the team.”