Team USA has shown why they are considered the most successful team in international competition by winning two consecutive exhibition games. The USA men’s basketball team has an impressive roster for the upcoming 2024 Paris Olympics, including LeBron James and the 2024 NBA champion Jayson Tatum.
Tatum and James have known each other for a longer time. After the second exhibition game, the five-time NBA All-Star shared a story about his first encounter with James during his childhood. Tatum mentioned that when his dad’s best friend played alongside the four-time NBA champion, his mom took him to watch James’ game. Tatum mentioned that he wanted to meet James and get his autograph at the time, but James said he had to go, which made Tatum cry in the car.
“In Memphis a long time ago, Larry Hughes was my dad’s best friend. They played on the Cavs together. My mom took me to a game in Memphis. I wanted to meet LeBron and I wanted to get a picture with him and an autograph. There was a lot of people back there. He was like ‘I’m out. I gotta go.’ I got in the car and started crying. But we cool now.” Tatum said.
Jayson Tatum’s and Lebron James’ Performance in the Second Exhibition Game Against Australia
The Team USA Showcase in Las Vegas began with an 86-72 win over the Canadian men’s basketball team on Wednesday. In the second game, the team secured a narrow 98-92 victory against Team Australia. Tyrese Haliburton’s two late 3-pointers played a crucial role in sealing the win for the USA men’s basketball team. During the game, Lakers star LeBron James scored 10 points, grabbed three rebounds, and dished out three assists in 21 minutes of play. Tatum also contributed with seven points, four rebounds, and five assists in the same amount of time against Team Australia. Additionally, Anthony Davis made an impact with 17 points and 14 rebounds in the win over Australia.
In a recent interview, Tatum expressed his excitement about sharing the court with some of the biggest names in the NBA. The 5-time NBA All-Star revealed how surreal it felt to play alongside LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Steph Curry in Team USA.
