Lebron James and Redeem Team Inducted into Hall of Fame

On a day when the spotlight was clearly on Carmelo Anthony and Dwight Howard, basketball also honored one of the greatest Olympic teams of all time at the James Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame induction ceremony over the weekend..

The 2008 group, better known as The Redeem Team, was honored and inducted, joining the 1960 and 1992 Men’s Olympic teams as the only ones that have been enshrined. One of the primary reasons for the induction on this day was that Anthony and Howard were on that team, along with Lebron James, Kobe Bryant, Jason Kidd, Chris Paul, Dwayne Wade, and head coach Mike Krzyzewski. 

We In The Hall Baby!!!!! Ayyyyyyeeee," James posted on his Instagram with his Hall of Fame jacket on and sitting alongside Krzyzewski.

The 2008 Olympics represented Team USA’s return to glory. After winning gold in 1992, 1996, and 2000, Argentina handed the Americans a stunning defeat in the semifinals of the 2004 Athens Games. The humiliating loss led Team USA to stack its roster in 2008 in an effort to show the world that its best was far and away better than any other country’s.

Team USA dominated in 2008 much like the Dream Team did in 1992. In a rematch against Argentina in the semifinals, Team USA won by 20 points. They then knocked off Spain by 11 to win the gold medal, redeeming themselves after the 2004 debacle. Team USA has gone on to win gold in every Olympics since.

Over the years, debates have ignited about which Olympic team was better: the 1992 Dream Team led by Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, and Magic Johnson, or the 2008 Redeem Team.

James has not shut the door on playing in one more Olympics, which would make him a part of Team USA when the Games return to Los Angeles in 2028. James currently has three gold medals, which is one shy of Kevin Durant’s four.