2:22pm: Paul won’t play for Team USA after all, according to Wojnarowski, who reports (via Twitter) that the Suns point guard has declined an invitation to join the squad for the Tokyo games.
However, Bucks guard Jrue Holiday has committed to Team USA, per Wojnarowski (via Twitter). He’ll take the backcourt spot that CP3 would’ve occupied, leaving one open spot on the tentative roster.
11:39am: USA Basketball continues to secure commitments for the Tokyo Olympics, according to reports from Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN and Shams Charania of The Athletic.
Bucks guard/forward Khris Middleton and Cavaliers power forward Kevin Love have committed to play for Team USA in Tokyo, their agents at Excel Basketball tell Wojnarowski. Meanwhile, sources inform Charania that Suns point guard Chris Paul plans to commit to the team as well.
The new series of additions means Team USA’s Olympic roster is now up to 11 tentative commitments, as follows:
- Guards: Damian Lillard, Bradley Beal, James Harden, Devin Booker, Paul
- Forwards: Kevin Durant, Jayson Tatum, Middleton
- Bigs: Bam Adebayo, Draymond Green, Love
Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell turned down an invite from USA Basketball, opting to use the offseason for recovery and rehab following his right ankle injury, tweets Wojnarowski. After a few weeks of deliberation, Warriors star Stephen Curry has also decided not to represent Team USA in Tokyo, Charania notes (via Twitter). So neither Mitchell nor Curry will fill the 12th and final spot on the squad.
That 12th spot may be reserved for Paul George, according to Joe Vardon of The Athletic. Before CP3’s commitment was reported, Vardon wrote that the Suns guard and the Clippers forward would be the favorites to get spots on Team USA if they’re willing to play.
Of course, the Suns and Clippers remain alive in the postseason, and at least one of them will be playing in the NBA Finals until at least mid-July. As Vardon relays, Team USA managing director Jerry Colangelo said that Booker intends to play in Tokyo even if the Suns make it to the Finals and have to play a seven-game series. It’s unclear if Paul – and George, if he commits – will take a similar position.
Love is washed up and lucky to still be considered a “big name”.
Who invited Kevin Love? Can anyone just declare for it? If so, I’m going to play for team USA as well.
No one wants you, Gabe.
I remember someone last week was upset that Booker committed to the team and he thought booker was entitled and didn’t deserve the spot… but Love has committed too. So if Love has a spot, Booker definitely deserves a spot
I get hating on Love for the selection, but two things. 1) He is still better than almost all the other countries bigs, even if he is washed up. 2) They probably invited many other big men, but they turned it down. If that’s not the case, and he got invited out of connections and privilege of playing in the olympics previously, then I understand and agree that maybe he shouldn’t participate. As a bias Cavs fan though, I am happy for him lol.
He can get garbage minutes when they have a big lead against Slobbovia.
How about Randle, Jrue Holiday, Ingram, or Zion?
Maybe they don’t wanna play! Holiday still in the playoffs and may not be able to make it if he in the finals
Love makes sense. Because he won’t ply much. No point in bringing Zion and him riding the pine. Bring Love and let him ride the pine pony
In that case, they can invite Myles Turner, Drummond, or even Lopez.
Make sense cp what 36 having a long playoff run and has a shoulder injury. Just rest and get ready for next season when this one over
And it leaves more time for his career as a TV commercial actor. CP3 needs all the down time he can get to stay healthy for another full season in 2022.
Didn’t Paul George learn from the last time he was with USA Basketball and broke his leg?
Be nice brother
Good for Kris Middelton …such a good player that’s taken some unnecessary jabs from the public the last few years
I had the understanding that this players were invited to participate, but it seems that they just decide to go & that is that, seems a very odd thing to do, for them to say I am going, I would expect them to have to be selected for that, real strange!
Love, couldn’t stay on the court for the team paying him mass sums of money…. Come on Man!!!