LeBron James is used to being admired, and wrongly thought more love from the Paris crowd during Monday’s Olympic quarterfinal victory over Brazil was coming his way from the bench.
As James took to the bench for the rest of the American’s blowout victory over Brazil, the crowd cheering loudly, with cameras on him. James motioned to put an imaginary crown on his head.
However, the cheers were for someone in the crowd the French have come to adore in the last few weeks, swimmer Léon Marchand.
Marchand was in the Bercy Arena crowd for the game, and when the Paris audience saw him also watching James, Devin Bookers, and the rest of the Americans dominate, the French got loud.
James was unaware of Marchand being in the crowd and continued to pose for the cameras while the swimmer stood up to greet the crowd’s admiration.
LeBron James did a crown gesture thinking the French crowd was cheering him on
During the USA-Brazil quarterfinal, the Paris audience was saluting Léon Marchand instead
Marchand saluted the crowd with under three minutes in the game, and with the result not in question.
Team USA won 122-87 over Brazil, earning a place in the semifinals against Serbia on Thursday.
Marchand competed in five events at the Olympics, winning four gold medals and one bronze.
Marchand’s performances in his home country have made him one of the integral performers at this summer’s Olympics, more prominent in France than James himself.
While James is no doubt a bigger star globally, and has plenty of supporters in France, it was a moment for Marchand to be admired now that all swimming events at the Olympics have concluded.
James has two more games to play in at the Olympics regardless of Thursday’s result due to a possible bronze-medal game.
Yet, it was Marchand’s moment on Monday night in France, not his.
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