Team USA vote LeBron James as their male flagbearer at Olympic opening ceremony

• NBA star is aiming to win his fourth Olympic medal
• US female flagbearer will be revealed later this week

James has been picked by his fellow US Olympians to serve as their male flagbearer in Friday night's opening ceremony for the Paris Games. He becomes the third basketball player - and the first men's player - to carry the US flag at the start of an Olympics, joining Dawn Staley for the Athens Games in 2004 and Sue Bird at the last Summer Games, in Tokyo.

It's an incredible honor to represent the United States on this global stage, especially in a moment that can bring the whole world together," James said. For a kid from Akron, this responsibility means everything to not only myself, but to my family, all the kids in my home town, my teammates, fellow Olympians and so many people across the country with big aspirations. Sports have the power to bring us all together, and I'm proud to be a part of this important moment."

The 39-year-old got word of the honor on Monday in London, a few hours before the US men's team were scheduled to play their final pre-Olympics exhibition game against Germany.

James's longtime on-court rival, and first-time Olympian, Stephen Curry nominated James for the flagbearer role.