Three NBA stars held their countries’ flags in the 2024 Olympics Opening Ceremony

The 2024 Olympic Games parade that took place at the Seine River during the opening ceremony featured three NBA players as flag-bearers for the first time since 2012.

LeBron James, representing the USA, Giannis Antetokounmpo, holding the flag of Greece, and Dennis Schroder of reigning world champion Germany, proudly carried their countries’ banners, all smiles.

“It’s always a new experience. This is a new group of guys. And some guys have never been Olympians before so you want them to see the whole moment of being here,” James said per USA Basketball. He’s going to participate in his fourth Olympic tournament. “It’s a great opportunity for me to continue to inspire the next generation. Super excited to be here. I’ve been a part of the Athens Games, the Beijing games, the London games and now the Paris games. They are always special in their own right.”

In the meantime, Joel Embiid and Tyrese Haliburton were cracking jokes after the Philadelphia 76ers star was told to “give away” his French passport by fans in Paris.