LeBron James required four stitches after being struck by an errant elbow during the United States’ 122-87 Olympic quarterfinal victory over Brazil on Tuesday.
Team USA coach Steve Kerr informed reporters after the game that the basketball superstar needed stitches to close a gash above his left eye. The injury occurred when Brazil’s Georginho de Paula accidentally hit James with his elbow while they were vying for a rebound in the third quarter.
James immediately clutched his face and went to the ground, prompting an apology from the Brazilian player. Team USA called a timeout so James could be attended to.
James remained on the bench for a short period before heading to the locker room. The four-time NBA MVP returned to the bench in the final minutes of the game, witnessing his team secure a win that advanced them to Thursday’s semifinal against Serbia.
