In a surprising turn of events, NBA legend LeBron James, at 39 years old, emerged as the top player at the Team USA training camp held in Las Vegas. Despite the presence of future Hall of Famers and highly talented players, James' performance stood out among the participants.

The voting was conducted by The Athletic, with straw polls conducted among the Olympic camp participants. James, known as the NBA's all-time leading scorer and entering his 22nd season, garnered the most votes, receiving a total of five. This poll was unique as it included participants from the select team, which consisted of younger NBA players, G Leaguers, and Cooper Flagg, a seventeen-year-old standout.

Players and coaches from the select team were allowed to cast their votes, and it was clear that James left a lasting impression. Amen Thompson, a forward for the Houston Rockets and a voter in the poll, exclaimed, "That's what I told my brother after the first day, I was like dude's 40 and he's the best player on the court." Thompson's sentiments were echoed by other team members who were in awe of James' remarkable skills and dedication.

Meanwhile, in a separate poll among the select team participants, Cooper Flagg, only seventeen years old and two years younger than James' son and new Los Angeles Lakers teammate, Bronny, emerged as the top vote-getter with nine votes. Flagg's incredible performance did not go unnoticed, with Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr., praising the young phenom, stating, "If I had to choose one person on the select team, it was definitely Cooper."

This informal poll conducted by The Athletic has become an annual tradition to determine the top U.S. player in camp. Last year, Jaren Jackson Jr. claimed the title as the top player in camp for the Americans in preparation for the World Cup.

However, this year's poll had a different dynamic, with the select team members participating in the voting process. Due to increased media interest and the star-studded roster, access to Team USA's players was limited, and only three national team members were available for interviews. Therefore, their counterparts from the select team provided insights into the camp's proceedings.

Jamahl Mosley, coach of the select team and Orlando Magic, lauded LeBron James for his exceptional leadership and poise. Mosley emphasized James' impact on the court, his effective communication, and his ability to rally teammates to achieve the team's goals.

As the training camp concluded on Monday, the attention now shifts towards the Olympics and the highly anticipated performances of Team USA. With LeBron James leading the charge and young talents like Cooper Flagg making their mark, basketball enthusiasts across the globe eagerly await the team's journey in Tokyo.