Tag: Team USA

LeBron James likely done playing for Team USA in Olympics

It looks like LeBron James won’t play for Team USA in the Olympics anymore, according to USA Basketball Director Jerry Colangelo.

The Tokyo Olympics, which was delayed a year because of the coronavirus pandemic, is set to begin in late July.

The Team USA roster for men’s basketball was recently finalized, and headlining the 12-man squad are players like Kevin Durant, Damian Lillard, Bradley Beal and more.

However, no members of the Los Angeles Lakers made the final cut.

The two best candidates were LeBron James and Anthony Davis, but both declined to play.

James said he’d rather play for the Tune Squad instead, a reference to his movie “Space Jam: A New Legacy” that releases on July 16. Davis wasn’t expected to play because he wanted time to rest from an injury-riddled season.

In James’ case, it looks like he won’t be representing USA in the Olympics anymore.

USA Basketball Director Jerry Colangelo discussed James’ situation on ESPN’s “KJZ”:

“Father time takes its toll…if you’re a human being, your body is built to go so long depending on what you’re sport is…LeBron made choices these last couple of Olympics not to participate because he’s got a lot of things going on in his life. And so he put in his time, he made a contribution that is appreciated, but I think his time is over.”

James has won three medals at the Olympics during his time with Team USA. He won bronze in 2004 and gold in 2008 and 2012. The 36-year-old forward opted out of the 2016 Olympics in Brazil.

The next FIBA Basketball World Cup is in 2023, but it’s unclear if James will want to participate at that time. He didn’t play in the 2019 tournament as the production schedule for “Space Jam: A New Legacy” was also in motion.

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Why the Tokyo Olympics will mean a little more for Kevin Durant

The Tokyo Olympics will mean more for Kevin Durant. Can he lead Team USA to glory and prove that he is the best player in the world?

Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Durant will lead Team USA in Tokyo later this month when the 2020 Olympics kick off a year late, which means not only will Durant be going for his third gold medal, but he will also have another opportunity to prove that he is the best player in the world.

Not too long ago in 2019, Durant fell short of winning his third NBA championship with the Golden State Warriors. The most obvious factor of the result was KD going down with an Achilles injury during that Finals series against the Toronto Raptors. If that injury had not occurred, many believe that Durant would have completed the three-peat, putting him on top of the basketball world.

Instead, he found himself departing to the Nets to link up with Kyrie Irving that summer. Two years later a blockbuster trade reunited him with his former teammate James Harden too. Now both Durant and the Nets organization have a chance to reach the same heights that Warriors team reached.

Of course injuries stood in the way of the team before getting eliminated in the second round by the Milwaukee Bucks. They can now rest, regroup and prepare for a better season next year. However, Durant has an early opportunity to give us a sneak peak of how next season will look on the biggest stage this summer.

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Gear up for the 2021 Olympics with the USA Basketball bobblehead series, build your collection now

Get your commemorative USA Basketball bobblehead series as you gear up for the Olympics and build your team now.

As we gear up for the Olympics, many fans will be looking forward to watching USA Basketball and all-star studded team. If you’re looking for some commemorative USA Olympic Basketball pieces, we have you covered with the USA Basketball bobblehead series.

You can start building your USA Olympic team now with the following collections: 2000 Sydney, 1996 Atlanta, ad 1960 Rome. The following collections will be launching soon: 2012 London, 2008 Beijing, 2016 Rio, and 1992 Spain.

2000 Sydney Olympics

Celebrate their golden achievement with one of the team’s brightest stars by adding this Vince Carter USA Basketball 2000 Sydney Games Bobblehead!

*This is a pre-order only and will ship no later than 9/23/2021.

Celebrate their golden achievement with one of the team’s brightest stars by adding this Kevin Garnett USA Basketball 2000 Sydney Games Bobblehead!

These are only $55 pre-order only and will ship no later than 9/23/2021.

Celebrate their golden achievement with one of the team’s brightest stars by adding this Gary Payton USA Basketball 2000 Sydney Games Bobblehead!

These are only $55 pre-order only and will ship no later than 9/23/2021.

1960 Rome Olympics

If you think West is the Best, then you can commemorate his legendary performance with this Jerry West USA Basketball 1960 Rome Games Bobblehead!

These are only $70 pre-order only and will ship no later than 9/16/2021.

1996 Atlanta Olympics

Now, you can celebrate their gold medal glory with this Shaquille O’Neal USA Basketball 1996 Atlanta Games Bobblehead!

These will be each Individually #’d out of 321, only $55, and will ship no later than 10/7/2021.

Now, you can celebrate their gold medal glory with this Karl Malone USA Basketball 1996 Atlanta Games Bobblehead!

These will be each Individually #’d out of 321, only $55, and will ship no later than 10/7/2021.

Now, you can celebrate their gold medal glory with this John Stockton USA Basketball 1996 Atlanta Games Bobblehead!

These will be each Individually #’d out of 321, only $55, and will ship no later than 10/7/2021.

Make sure you check back to see the updated USA Basketball bobbleheads as they are released, you can also check out more that might fit your collection here.

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James Harden withdraws from team USA to focus on recovering

James Harden, who was expected to initially commit to Team USA, is now withdrawing in order to focus on recovering his right hamstring.

Nets guard James Harden, who initially was expected to commit to Team USA, was left with no choice but to withdraw from Team USA in order to recover from a right hamstring injury that he reaggravated in the postseason.

Before going down in April because of the initial injury, the Beard had already won the February and March Player of the Month honors because of his stellar play. He was making a stronger case to win MVP and proving that he was more than capable of holding it down on the Nets despite only arriving in January. What made this run even more impressive was the fact that Kevin Durant went down on February 13th with a hamstring injury of his own and didn’t return until April 7th.

 

Although Harden’s decision to withdraw hurts Team USA’s overall talent level, it is necessary in order for him to reach 100 percent. We still do not know what he is capable of when he’s fully healthy and we are at the edge of our seat’s to see what this Nets team can do when they reach their true potential. But it all starts with health.

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Kevin Durant will commit to Team USA for the Tokyo Olympics

Former Texas star Kevin Durant is one of 12 players who will be on the Team USA roster for the Tokyo Olympics this summer.

Kevin Durant did not walk away with an NBA championship this season, but he can end this calendar year with a gold medal from the Tokyo Olympics.

It was announced on Sunday by The Athletic’s Shams Charania that Durant is expected to be on the 12-man roster for Team USA this summer.

Durant and the Brooklyn Nets had their historical playoff run end roughly a week ago after his potential game-tying shot fell short. Durant gave everything he had in the loss to the Bucks, as he played the whole game from games four through seven and he had multiple 40-plus performances.

The former Longhorn is now in pursuit of a third gold medal as he was a part of the gold medal teams in both London (2012) and Rio (2016).

The 12-man roster is full after there being 57 potential suitors.

The roster is as followed:

  • Kevin Durant, F, Brooklyn Nets
  • James Harden, G, Brooklyn Nets
  • Damian Lillard, G, Portland Trail Blazers
  • Devin Booker, G, Phoenix Suns
  • Jayson Tatum, F, Boston Celtics
  • Bradley Beal, G, Washington Wizards
  • Khris Middleton, G/F, Milwaukee Bucks
  • Bam Adebayo, C, Miami Heat
  • Draymond Green, F/C, Golden State Warriors
  • Jrue Holiday, G, Milwaukee Bucks
  • Kevin Love, F, Cleveland Cavaliers
  • Brook Lopez, C, Milwaukee Bucks

One interesting note is the fact that Devin Booker, Khris Middleton, Jrue Holiday and Brook Lopez all have the opportunity to make it to the NBA Finals. If their team(s) series goes to a game seven, which is currently scheduled for July 22nd, the players will not only miss training camp in Las Vegas, but have three days before their first matchup against France on June 25th.

Even if those players decide to forgo playing, having Durant on the team will leave the United States in prime position to three-peat for gold.

Bradley Beal committed to represent Team USA at the Olympics

The former Florida and current Washington Wizards guard is one of eight players that have committed to join Team USA for the Tokyo Games.

Former Florida and current Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal will make his Olympic debut next month in Tokyo. The 27-year-old is one of eight players that has committed to be a part of the three-time defending gold medal-winning United States basketball squad.

In addition to the six players joining Beal that the above tweet lists, Brooklyn Nets guard James Harden also committed to play for Team USA in the Olympics.

Beal is coming off a season in which he reached his career-high in points per game with 31.3. He also averaged 4.4 assists and 4.7 rebounds, and he was a member of the All-Star team for the third time in his career. The Wizards made the playoffs, but despite Beal averaging 30 points and 6.4 rebounds during the postseason (both career marks), Washington was bounced in five games by the Philadelphia 76ers.

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Though this will be his first time representing Team USA at the Olympics, it’s not the first time Beal has participated in international competition. While in high school, he was a member of the U.S. national team at the FIBA Americas Championship in 2009 and at the World Championship the following year.

Beal was a candidate to make the national team both at the Rio de Janeiro Games in 2016 and the Basketball World Cup in China two years ago, but he withdrew from consideration for the former due to injury concerns and the latter for family reasons.

Now, Beal will make his debut on the international stage as a part of the team that will surely be heavily favored to take home the gold medal for the fourth games in a row.

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Report: Kevin Durant expected to play for Team USA in 2021 Olympics

Kevin Durant is expected to suit up for Team USA later this summer.

Fresh off an epic playoff run in which he staked his claim as the best player in the world, Nets superstar Kevin Durant is expected to commit to playing for Team USA for the upcoming Tokyo Olympics this summer.

Durant has already won gold with the team in the 2012 London Olympics and the 2016 Brazil Olympics. If he manages to win gold again this year, this will make it his third Gold medal of his career.

Durant averaged 34.3 PPG, 9.3 RPG and 4.4 APG in the playoffs on 51 percent shooting from the field, his highest scoring totals in the postseason ever.

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Report: Former Warrior Kevin Durant expected to commit to Team USA for Tokyo Olympics

Former Golden State Warrior Kevin Durant is expected to join Draymond Green with Team USA for the summer Olympic Games in Tokyo.

After his red-hot 2020-21 campaign came to a close with a 48 point performance against the Milwaukee Bucks in the second round of the Eastern Conference playoffs, that included a heroic game-tying jumper at the end of regulation, Kevin Durant will reportedly turn his attention to the summer Olympic Games in Tokyo. 

According to Shams Charania and Anthony Slater of The Athletic, the former Golden State Warriors forward is expected to commit to an already loaded Team USA squad for the Tokyo Olympic Games. 

Via @ShamsCharania on Twitter: 

After missing a season with an Achilles injury, Durant quickly returned to form, averaging 26.9 points on 53.7% shooting from the field with 7.1 rebounds, 5.6 assists and 1.3 blocks per contest. In the 2021 postseason, the Texas Longhorns product notched 34.3 points on 51% shooting from the field with 9.3 boards and 4.4 assists per contest.

The Brooklyn forward already holds a pair of Olympic gold medals from the 2012 games in London and the 2016 games in Rio de Janerio. 

Durant will join his former Golden State teammate Draymond Green who has also reportedly committed to Team USA. Alongside Durant and Green, other NBA players like Damian Lillard, Bradley Beal, Jayson Tatum and Devin Booker are reportedly planning to play for Team USA in Tokyo.

Team USA training camp for the Summer Olympics is set to begin on July 6 in Las Vegas.

This post originally appeared on Warriors Wire! Follow us on Facebook! 

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Report: Warriors’ Draymond Green commits to play for Team USA in Tokyo Olympics

According to Shams Charania and Joe Vardon of The Athletic, Warriors forward Draymond Green has committed to play for Team USA in the Tokyo Olympics.

While the NBA is setting up for the start of the final Eastern and Western conference postseason series, Team USA basketball is beginning to prepare for the summer Olympic Games in Tokyo.

Although the team likely won’t be set until the end of the NBA Finals, a member of the Golden State Warriors has reportedly committed to playing for Team USA. According to Shams Charania and Joe Vardon of The Athletic, Draymond Green is among one of the initial commitments to Team USA for the Tokyo Olympic run. 

Portland Trail Blazers guard and Oakland native Damian Lillard joins Green as early commitments for the Gregg Popovich-led squad. According to Marc Stein of the New York Times, Team USA also hopes to secure a commitment from Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal.

Via @ShamsCharania on Twitter: 

In 2016, Green helped Team USA win a gold medal in the Rio de Janeiro edition of the Olympics, averaging 1.9 points, 2.1 boards and 1.3 assists in 9.9 minutes per contest.

During the 2020-21 campaign, Green tallied seven points on 44.7% shooting from the floor with 8.9 assists and 7.1 rebounds in 31.5 minutes per game. Along with being a finalist for the Defensive Player of the Year award, the Michigan State product was named to the NBA’s All-Defensive first team.

Team USA training camp for the Summer Olympics is set to begin on July 6 in Las Vegas.

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United States get revenge on Internationals with 2021 Arnold Palmer Cup win

The Americans have won the Arnold Palmer Cup 13 times since 1997.

For the first time since 2018 the Americans are Arnold Palmer Cup champions.

Team USA entered the Sunday singles matches of the annual team competition for college and university golfers with a 20-16 lead over its International counterparts and needed to secure 11 points from 24 matches to capture the cup at Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove, Illinois.

Objective complete.

After Duke sophomore Erica Shepherd ran away with a 3-and-2 win over South Carolina sophomore and No. 5-ranked Pauline Roussin-Bouchard, Arizona redshirt senior Brad Reeves earned the clinching point with a 3-and-2 win of his own over Oklahoma State’s Bo Jin, who finished runner-up at the NCAA Championship earlier this month.

The win is the Americans’ 13th of the competition, which dates back to 1997. The United States lost last December at Bay Hill, 40½–19½.

The competition as it is played now features teams from the U.S. and the rest of the world, comprised of 12 men and 12 women, but has changed over the years. From 1997-2017 the event was men only, and from 1997-2002 was contested between the U.S. and Great Britain and Ireland. After the Americans won four of the first six events, the Great Britain and Ireland team was expanded to include all of Europe from 2003-2017. The current format has been used since 2018.

Sunday singles results

  • Gina Kim (USA) def. Ana Pelaez Trivino (Int.), 3 and 2
  • David Puig (Int.) def. Dylan Menante (USA), 3 and 2
  • Jacob Bridgeman (USA) def. Alex Fitzpatrick (Int.), 2 and 1
  • Emma Spitz (Int.) def. Julia Johnson (USA), 1 up
  • Beatrice Wallin (Int.) def. Irene Kim (USA), 4 and 3
  • Julian Perico (Int.) def. William Moll (USA), 5 and 3
  • Trent Phillips (USA) def. Adrien Dumont de Chassart (Int.), 4 and 3
  • Isabella Fierro (Int.) def. Kate Smith (USA), 2 and 1
  • Lauren Walsh (Int.) def. Rachel Kuehn (USA), 2 and 1
  • Benjamin Shipp (USA) def. Puwit Anupansuebsai (Int.), 7 and 5
  • Ryan Hall (USA) def. Yuxin Lin (Int.), 1 up
  • Virunpat Olankitkunchai (Int.) and Emilia Migliaccio (USA), tied
  • Allisen Corpuz (USA) def. Penny Brown (Int.), 4 and 2
  • Hugo Townsend (Int.) and Sam Bennett (USA), tied
  • Pontus Nyholm (Int.) def. Trevor Norby (USA), 2 and 1
  • Emily Price (Int.) def. Hanna Harrison (USA), 4 and 3
  • Latanna Stone (USA) def. Karen Fredgaard (Int.), 2 and 1
  • Ricky Castillo (USA) def. Joe Pagdin (Int.), 2 and 1
  • Eugenio Chacarra (Int.) def. Pierceson Coody (USA), 3 and 1
  • Agathe Laisne (Int.) def. Brooke Matthews (USA), 1 up
  • Erica Shepherd (USA) def. Pauline Roussin-Bouchard (Int.), 3 and 2
  • Brad Reeves (USA) def. Bo Jin (Int.), 3 and 2
  • Nick Gabrelcik (USA) def. Allan Hill (Int.), 3 and 2
  • Lauren Hartlage (USA) def. Ingrid Lindblad (Int.), 1 up

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