CHINA: OLYMPICS Beijing 2008 - BASKETBALL - LeBron "guarantees" US win over China and an Olympic gold

Record ID: 872839

  • Title: CHINA: OLYMPICS Beijing 2008 - BASKETBALL - LeBron "guarantees" US win over China and an Olympic gold
  • Date: 10th August 2008
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (English) LEBRON JAMES, US BASKETBALL PLAYER, SAYING: "We are not. We are not going to lose against China, I've already guaranteed the gold, you all want me to guarantee wins now ! What else you want me to guarantee?"
  • Embargoed: 25th August 2008 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: China
  • City:
  • Country: China
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVAA8SMZ4Q5KSPLBUTTS96FX7PB3
  • Aspect Ratio:
  • Story Text: American basketball superstar, LeBron James is not only guaranteeing his country will beat China in the U.S.'s first Olympic match in Beijing, but also that the team will take home the gold medal.
    Brimming with confidence on the sidelines of a training session, the Cleveland Cavaliers' all-time leading scorer at age 23 told reporters defeat against China is out of the question.

    "We are not going to lose against China, I've already guaranteed the gold, you all want me to guarantee wins now," he joked, adding, "What else you want me to guarantee?"
    The four-time NBA All-Star is playing in his second Olympic Games for the U.S. team. Four years ago in Athens, the Americans only finished third while a dashing Argentina swept to the title.
    At the 2006 world championships the Americans were again relegated to the bronze medal.
    The super-rich NBA players, billed as the "Redeem Team"
    following their recent flops, open their Olympic campaign with a blockbuster game against a Yao Ming-inspired China on Sunday (August 10).
    Kobe Bryant, one of the world's best-known athletes and Los Angeles Lakers guard said the game against China would be: "Probably the highest energy game I have ever been a part of, just because of the crowd, the anticipation of it all."
    The U.S. players are well used to China's hero Yao, who plays for the Houston Rockets.
    Bryant said if they hadn't faced Ming before, he would be very intimidating.

    "It would be different if we had never played him before - you would see this 7'6" guy who can do everything on court - that would be a little different. But we have seen him play several times, we are familiar with him and we will obviously have to pay a lot of attention to him. It will be tough."
    LeBron James said earlier in the week that a lot of the players on the 2004 Olympic team did not play that hard because they didn't really want to be in the Games.
    US team coach, Mike Krzyzewski, said of the upcoming game against China, "All these guys would rather play in big games. They are ready, they are ready to play Olympic basketball games - and for the United States."
    The U.S. are among the favorites for gold at the Beijing Games.
    The team is in the same preliminary Group B as world champions Spain and a tough Greece side who stunned them in the world championship semi-finals in 2006.
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