LeBron James was quite literally floored by France’s performance in the boys’s basketball final on Saturday.
In the ultimate minutes of the second quarter with the Americans leading 40-33, Frenchman Guerschon Yabusele received a pass on the fitting side beyond the arc.
He quickly faked a hand off to protect ex-Knick Frank Ntilikina and sped past his defender, Kevin Durant, and Ntilikina’s defender, Devin Booker, to go downhill.
On the rim, he was met with James, who was posterized by an incredible over-the-top dunk from Yabusele.
James fell flat on the court in disbelief, but left the world together with his third gold medal — Team USA’s fifth consecutive gold — in a 98-87 victory.
The play immediately sent the French bench and Bercy Arena right into a frenzy, jumping up and down and waving flags for his or her home team.
Basketball fans have also eaten up the moment on social media.
“This man just bodied LeBron James in front of the world,” an X user wrote.
“Lebron James got dunked on viciously OMG within the #GoldMedal game,” one other said.
One other wrote: “If a 6’8 260 lbs athletic freak that may shoot, defend, rebound, and dunk on Lebron James can’t even make the league then you may have no probability.”
2024 PARIS OLYMPICS
James, 39, can have the moment be considered one of the highlights of what can have been his final Olympic basketball game, together with Durant.
The four-time MVP and 20-time All-Star has began in each of Team USA’s Olympics contests and had 14 points and 6 rebounds within the gold medal game.
James first suited up for the Olympic team in Athens in 2004, taking a disappointing bronze, before eventually taking home gold in each London (2012) and Rio (2016).
James was likely riding a high into Paris after signing his Lakers extension together with the addition of his oldest son, Bronny James, to his Los Angeles team, where they will probably be the primary father-son duo to play on an NBA team together.
