On December 10 last year, when Anthony Davis scored 40 points and 20 rebounds in the mid-season championship final, it was LeBron James who awarded the MVP of the first NBA Cup, which confused many viewers. Eight months later, a similar scene happened again. When Curry hit 8 three-pointers in the Olympic finals and finally achieved the feat of four consecutive three-pointers, the Olympic men's basketball MVP award was still awarded to James.

Although the Olympic men's basketball MVP is not a very valuable award. It can neither be exchanged for gold medals nor measured in money. This still leaves many fans with questions: Why not Curry? Wasn't his performance better? Curry helped the US team get out of the crisis against Serbia. Why did the grand prize fall to James in the end?

James occupies an absolute core position in this American men's basketball team. Although Curry and Durant are leaders on their respective teams, James is the one who truly controls the situation on the national team. As the captain of the United States team, he united this team known as "Sunset Red". Although Curry is known as the best shooter in history, he cannot compare with James in terms of influence. James has four championships, four regular season MVPs and four finals MVPs, while Curry has four championships, two MVPs and one FMVP. In addition, James is also the historical scoring leader, and their statistics are not at the same level at all.

This Olympic MVP is recognition of James' 20-year national team career. Although Durant won four Olympic gold medals, James has been involved with the national team for longer. Starting in Athens in 2004, he experienced the low period of the US men's basketball team. Since then, as long as he is on the court, the US team has not lost. James also has three Olympic gold medals, alongside his good friend Anthony. The national team under his leadership has won five consecutive championships, which is indispensable.

James' role in the national team is like the magician in the 1992 Dream Team, while Curry is more like a shooting guard. James showed that when supported by high-level teammates, he is still the brightest spot on the court. In this Olympics, James' performance was equally excellent, but because of the passage of time, fans tend to forget it. He averaged 14.2 points, 6.8 rebounds and 8.5 assists per game in the game, and shot 66% from the field, ranking the highest in the team in rebounds and assists. Although Curry performed amazingly in the last two games, he was almost always in a downturn in the previous games.

James, who is about to celebrate his 40th birthday, said that it is impossible for him to participate in the Los Angeles Olympics. Therefore, awarding this Olympic men's basketball MVP to James seems to be a farewell to him and a tribute to his 20 years of glory. As the James era ends, a new chapter is about to begin.