LOS ANGELES (AFP) — LeBron James has ruled out playing in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and USA teammate Stephen Curry says he is highly unlikely to see action in the Games.
James and Curry teamed up in a star-studded USA line-up last year to win gold at the Paris Olympics, defeating hosts France in a memorable final.
But Los Angeles Lakers star James, who would be 43 years old by the time of the next Olympics, says there is no chance of a reunion.
Speaking on an episode of his “Mind the Game” podcast released Tuesday, basketball great James told co-host Steve Nash he planned to watch the Olympics from afar.
“You already know my answer,” James told Nash when asked if there was any chance of him returning for one last Olympic hurrah.
“Don’t even ask. I will be watching from Cabo... I’m done.”
Golden State Warriors star Curry, who also appeared on the episode, was not as definitive but said he doubted he would be part of the US campaign.
“It is the opposite answer of what I told him last year,” Curry said, referring to the conversation he had with James when he was recruited to the Paris team.
“It was like, God willing, I still have the choice and the physical option to be like, I could actually impact the team. Never say never, but I highly doubt it.”
Curry was one of the stars of the victorious USA Olympic campaign last year, scoring 24 points — including a flurry of three-pointers — in the gold medal match against France.
“We can’t top what we just did,” James added.
“We can’t top that ... We literally played France in Paris in the final.”
Meanwhile, the Cleveland Cavaliers were fined $100,000 by the NBA for resting Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley against Miami last week in violation of the league’s Player Participation Policy.
The NBA adopted the policy before the 2023-24 campaign to limit when teams benched players for rest during regular-season games in a bid to boost participation by star talent in major contests.
In the game against Miami, Cleveland had 30 points and 10 rebounds from center Jarrett Allen while De’Andre Hunter scored 21 in beating the Heat, 130-116.
Even without their big names, the Cavs outscored Miami 37-19 in the fourth quarter to rally for the victory.
It was their fourth of five games in seven days, including a 140-138 overtime loss to Miami two nights earlier.
Mitchell, a 29-year-old guard, ranks among the top five in NBA scoring with 30.9 points a game.
Mobley, a 24-year-old center, is second on the Cavs with 18.9 points a game and also averages 8.8 rebounds and 4.3 assists.
The Cavaliers are 10-5 and second in the Eastern Conference.