LeBron James in the context of "Sportsman of the Year"

The United States of America (USA), represented by the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC), competed at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris from July 26 to August 11, 2024. U.S. athletes have appeared in every Summer Olympic Games of the modern era, except for the 1980 edition in Moscow, when America led a sixty-six-nation boycott in protest of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. As Los Angeles is hosting the 2028 Summer Olympics, the United States marched penultimately before the homebound French team entered Place du Trocadéro during the parade of nations segment of the opening ceremony. Additionally, an American segment featuring H.E.R. and Tom Cruise from Paris, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Billie Eilish, Snoop Dogg, and Dr. Dre from Long Beach, was performed during the closing ceremony.

The opening ceremony flag-bearers for the United States were LeBron James and Coco Gauff. James, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, is the first male basketball player to be chosen. At 20 years of age, Gauff is the youngest American athlete and the first tennis player to be so honored. The closing ceremony flag-bearers were Nick Mead and Katie Ledecky.

Vincent Lamar Carter Jr. (born January 26, 1977) is an American former professional basketball player who played for 22 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He primarily played the shooting guard and small forward positions, and was known for his high flying dunks, scoring ability, and athleticism. An eight-time All-Star and a two-time All-NBA Team selection, he played 22 seasons in the NBA, the second longest after LeBron James for the most seasons played in league history. He is also the only player to have played in the NBA in four different decades (1990s, 2000s, 2010s, 2020s). In 2024, Carter was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

Carter entertained crowds with his leaping ability and slam dunks, earning him nicknames such as "Vinsanity", "Air Canada" (a play on the Canadian airline of the same name), and "Half Man, Half Amazing". He has been ranked as the greatest dunker of all time by numerous players, journalists, and by the NBA.His Dunk of Death against France during the 2000 Summer Olympics is considered one of the most famous of all time. In addition to his dunking prowess, Carter was a prolific three-point shooter, making the tenth most three-point field goals in league history.

High school basketball, also known as prep basketball, is the sport of basketball as played by high school teams in the United States and Canada.

Top high school athletes sometimes go on to play college basketball after graduating. Some players were drafted directly from high school to play professionally in the National Basketball Association, including future NBA stars Kevin Garnett, Kobe Bryant, Tracy McGrady, and LeBron James.