TEAM USA men’s basketball stars made sure they could toast each Olympic victory with a glass of wine from France’s finest chateaus.
The hoopers ordered $73,000 worth of top French wine for the Paris 2024 games – with LeBron James serving as the crew’s main connoisseur, The U.S. Sun has learned.
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“The requests were clear and simple – they know what they want, and they want the best of the best,” a consultant coordinating the operations for Team USA at the Olympics said.
“The wines that they asked for their time in the Olympics are some of the finest wines we have in France.”
Chateau de Selle Cotes de Provence Clair de Noirs rose of Domaines Ott proved to be the most popular choice.
Team USA ordered 30 three-liter bottles of the summertime-perfect wine, worth $420 each, for a total of $12,600.
The splendid 1985 Chateau Petrus from the Bordeaux region’s tiny Pomerol appellation and the Domaine de La Romanee Conti’s finest 2020 Grands Echezeaux made for the most expensive requests.
Four bottles of each red, coming with a $3,000 price tag per flask, landed in the hoopers’ cellar – adding a combined $24,000 to the bill.
The order included another Pomerol staple, the Trilogie de Le Pin 16-17-18 costing $11,150 for 10 bottles.
Team USA also requested 10 bottles of the fine white 2017 Riesling Domaine Weinbach, totaling $13,000.
The same number of the 2008 Roses de Jeanne Blanc de Noirs Les Ursules champagne was ordered, amounting to $12,000 and taking the grand total to about $72,800.
“They are gonna be able to enjoy some nice glasses in between games and enjoy their time in the city of love with some of its finest wines,” the operations consultant who spoke with The U.S. Sun said.
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“They are going to have a full French experience, that is for sure!”
Several players and members of the team shared their thoughts on the wine choice to make sure everyone’s palate would be satisfied, the insider said.
But James, 39, was leading the requests, the source noted.
“He loves wine, and he was very specific on what he wants,” the consultant said. “He loves red wines.”
USA basketball Olympic schedule
Men
July 28, 11.15am ET – USA 110-84 Serbia, NBC
July 31, 3pm ET – USA vs South Sudan, USA Network
August 3, 11.15am ET – USA vs Puerto Rico, NBC
Women
July 29, 3pm ET, USA 102-76 Japan, USA Network
August 1, 3pm ET, USA vs Belgium, USA Network
August 4, 11.15am ET USA vs Germany, USA Network
The insider recalled coordinating orders for James when he visited France in the past, confirming that the Los Angeles Lakers forward is no stranger to good wine.
“One thing I am sure of is that he knows his preferences and knows a lot about wines,” the source said.
James also led the entire Team USA during Friday’s opening ceremony, serving as the flag bearer alongside tennis star Coco Gauff.
The four-time NBA champion looked majestic at the top of the US boat in rainy Paris.
The US men’s basketball team started the 2024 Games with a 110-84 win over Serbia on Sunday.
Next, Team USA will face South Sudan on Wednesday and Puerto Rico on Saturday to conclude the group stage.