After debating whether to return for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, reigning NBA MVP LeBron James days as a member of Team USA are likely over.
James, 28, will not play for USA Basketball during the 2013 world championships in Spain and is highly doubtful to return in the 2016 Olympics in Brazil, according to a source of Yahoo! Sports on Wednesday. USA Basketball executive director Jerry Colangelo also confirmed that he doesn't expect James to play and doesn't plan to ask him.
"LeBron is going to be three years older during the next Olympics. He will have two older boys. He has a lot to endure with his family" the source told Y! Sports. "He played in three Olympics. Everyone that knows LeBron knows it's always based on a decision at that moment. But if the moment was today the answer would be no."
James has already won two Olympic gold medals and a bronze in three Olympic appearances that began in 2004. During the 2012 Olympic Games in London, James joined Michael Jordan as the only two players to be named NBA league MVP, win an NBA Finals and be named Finals MVP, and win an Olympic gold medal all in the same year.
Another sign that would indicate that James' USA Basketball playing days are behind him due to Colangelo proclamation that Oklahoma City Thunder's Kevin Durant as "kind of the face of USA Basketball going forward".
Durant and Kevin Love announced they will play for the U.S. next summer. Colangelo said he expects another "two or four" members from the past Olympics team to play next year.
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