Veteran center Pau Gasol, who has represented Spain in four Olympic tournaments so far, remains on track to be part of the team in Tokyo, per an Associated Press report. Gasol was one of 18 players included on Spain’s preliminary roster for the Tokyo games, joining his brother – Lakers center Marc Gasol – and Timberwolves point guard Ricky Rubio.
Timberwolves forward Juan Hernangomez, Pelicans big man Willy Hernangomez, and projected first-round pick Usman Garuba are among the other notable names on Spain’s preliminary roster, according to The Associated Press.
Here’s more on the Tokyo Olympics:
- Sixers All-Star Ben Simmons isn’t expected to play for Australia in the Olympics, tweets Brian Windhorst of ESPN. After a tough postseason, Simmons will spend the offseason focused on developing skills, including his jump shot.
- No African team has ever earned an Olympic medal – or even advanced beyond the preliminary stage – in the men’s basketball tournament, so Nigeria head coach Mike Brown will be looking to make history in Tokyo, writes Marc J. Spears of The Undefeated. According to Colin Udoh of ESPN, Nuggets guard Monte Morris, Raptors forward OG Anunoby, Pistons big man Jahlil Okafor, Jazz teammates Miye Oni and Udoka Azubuike, and Heat teammates Precious Achiuwa and KZ Okpala are among the new additions to Nigeria’s roster.
- Turkey has announced its preliminary roster for the upcoming Olympic qualifying tournament in Canada, as Sportando relays. In addition to NBA players like Cedi Osman, Ersan Ilyasova, Furkan Korkmaz, and Omer Yurtseven, the squad includes projected first-round pick Alperen Sengun.
- Cavaliers guard Darius Garland will be part of the U.S. Select Team that scrimmages against Team USA’s Olympic squad ahead of the Tokyo games, as Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com writes. Cavs center Jarrett Allen has also received an invite to join the Select Team, but hasn’t made a decision yet, Fedor adds.
Sixers All-Star Ben Simmons isn’t expected to play for Australia in the Olympics, tweets Brian Windhorst of ESPN. After a tough postseason, Simmons will spend the offseason focused on developing skills, including his jump shot.
Sure he will and then he will make some S’Mores and sing Kumbaya with Shaq and Charles Barkley
Don’t basketball players usually develop their jump shot before they’re 25?
Even by 15
They pre id these guys
We’ve been hearing about working on his jump shot for 4 years….
That Nigerian team seems like it could make some noise.
HoopsRumors team, once the Olympic/Qualifying teams are set could you post the rosters or provide a link to them. Maybe add a poll, I’m interested in seeing some of the other world teams.
They’re definitely gonna make noise. Josh Okogie & OG Anunoby gonna make life real tough on opposing wings. If this team hits treys they’re gonna win a bunch of games
Simmons should play the Olympics, it’s more a mental issue than a skill one. Sure he could use the extra time to work on it, but I think so time away from it all representing his country would benefit it more next season.
He cant shoot, shooting is a skill.
i think OP means that its not that he’s lacking the ability to do it physically, but fails to manifest said skills on tbe court due to mental aspects of the game.
Simmons on the team, uh no.
I trust Ben actually means to work on his skills when he says he will, but that makes me further skeptical that it will matter, because it seems his work never translates. if it’s a confidence issue, this wolnt matter. that said, skipping the Olympics, unless he’s just a jerk and doesnt want to play, would certainly show he’s serious.
Hopefully Big Ben will decide to grow up and realize this is his job.
Ben better work on his game dude going to be making like 30 mill next season.
USA doesn’t have much depth at center so we should expect a lot of smaller lineups with KD, Tatum, Middleton, or Grant playing the five. Maybe Draymond a little bit.
I mean… Ben could use the Olympics to take shots in ACTUAL games. Freaking Steph Curry hits 105 straight 3s in practice and is only +40% in games. Practice means N O T H I N G because hes too much of a B to shoot in a game.
so the practice Steph has put in hasnt helped him improve his shot? that’s absurd. its part of the process.
All this advice for Inscutable Ben.