LeBron James leads Team USA past Germany in London - ESPN

LONDON — Here is something for everyone in the basketball world to understand as the Olympics, perhaps the most competitive international tournament in history, are about to get started.

LeBron James is not messing around. He might be 39 years old and named the country's flag-bearer, but this is no ceremonial moment.

Monday night as he put on another display of dominance in front of the largest crowd to ever watch a basketball game in London, the fans, the opponents and even his peers on Team USA could only watch in awe.

With Germany, the current FIBA World Cup champions, trying to send a message by knocking off the Americans just days before the start of the Olympics, James grabbed the game by the horns in the same manner he has done since he was a teenager.

James scored eight vital points and wrapped them around steals, rebounds and general brute force to lead Team USA to a 92-88 victory. He finished with 20 points, six rebounds and four assists but the statistics are hardly representative of the force he played with.

As James went on a basket-steal-basket-rebound-free throws-rebound run during the middle of the fourth quarter, his teammates were bouncing around the bench area like children at recess watching it all play out.

And, by the way, he opened the game with two vicious dunks in the first three minutes.

Team USA finishes the pre-Olympic tour an imperfect 5-0. It has some issues to work on after two less-than-impressive showings in London.

But Joel Embiid was a bright spot as he continues to round into form. He had 15 points, eight rebounds and five assists.

Steph Curry had 13 points for Team USA.

Germany has four current NBA players on its roster and is known for excellent team chemistry, which was on display