Tag: Team USA

Uncertainty on NBA season could mean no Celtics, NBAers on Team USA

If the NBA changes its schedule due to the pandemic, Team USA might end up without any Boston Celtics or other NBA players in the 2020 Olympics.

Now that it is certain that the 2020 Olympic Games are postponed until the summer of 2021, another question arises regarding Team USA and the contingent of Boston Celtics who played for it in the summer of 2019.

Team Shamrock (as those Celtics players became known) and the rest of the NBA players on Team USA’s roster currently have no idea when — or if — the 2019-20 regular season and playoffs will resume, nor what impact that could have on their participation in the 2020 Olympics.

Should the NBA continue on a truncated or calendrically-adjusted schedule going forward for even a season, it could mean NBA players would not be able to participate.

And even if there is no direct overlap, if the proximity is too close to the start or end of this or next season, the best players in the world may end up sitting the next Olympics out anyway, and not just for the U.S.

Add this to the growing list of unknown ripple effects decisions to be made in the coming weeks and months ranging from everything from the 2020 NBA Draft Lottery and the draft itself to the salary cap and future free agency to the structure of the league season itself.

Proposals to address any of the problems with these and many league and NBA-adjacent events could resonate for years into the future as a result of the coronavirus pandemic creating chaos not just in the Association, but all pro sports and many industries.

As with much in our current situation, only time will clarify what effect the NBA’s plans to resume the season have on the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo and many other interrelated events.

Whatever the decisions made by the NBA and USA Basketball end up being, after the pandemic ripped quotidian pleasures like pro sports from our lives so rapidly and without notice, most of us may simply be happy to have basketball back at any level.

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IOC member: 2020 Olympics to be postponed, likely to 2021

Rockets stars James Harden and Russell Westbrook wanted to play in the 2020 Olympics, but the event now appears set for postponement.

Veteran International Olympic Committee (IOC) member Dick Pound told USA TODAY Sports on Monday that the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo would be postponed, likely to 2021. He cited information regarding the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak around the world.

“On the basis of the information the IOC has, postponement has been decided,” Pound told Christine Brennan of USA TODAY Sports. “The parameters going forward have not been determined, but the Games are not going to start on July 24, that much I know.”

Houston Rockets stars and former NBA MVPs James Harden and Russell Westbrook had previously expressed interest in playing for the USA Basketball Men’s National Team in the 2020 Olympics. In February, each was named among the 44 finalists for the Olympic roster.

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But with the NBA appearing to target a mid-to-late June timeframe for the resumption of its 2019-20 season, players from playoff-bound teams (such as the Rockets) might not have had a realistic path to play in the Olympics, anyway — even had they gone on as scheduled.

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Harden and Westbrook are 30 and 31 years old, respectively. They won a gold medal together at the 2012 Olympics before each withdrew from consideration on the same day for the 2016 squad.

The two Rockets stars will both be in their mid 30s in the summer of 2024, which might make them reluctant at that age to put their bodies through that type of workload during an NBA offseason. Thus, this cycle could be their last realistic opportunity to compete in the Olympics.

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Kevin Durant playing in 2020 Tokyo Olympics ‘definitely a possibility’

Kevin Durant may not take the floor for Brooklyn in 2019-20, but Nets fans may get a look at him in game action before 2020-21.

Kevin Durant hasn’t played a minute of Brooklyn Nets basketball since he joined the team — which is a result of his right Achilles injury and surgery. From the beginning of the 2019-20 season, the Nets maintained Durant was not expected to play this year.

With there being some room for speculation about Durant’s availability, given his and Brooklyn’s stance, the forward was recently asked for a more definitive answer. He then ruled himself out for 2019-20

However, there’s still a chance Durant plays in games before the 2020-21 season. Though, it may not be in the capacity Nets fans want.

When USA basketball released its preliminary roster in early February, Durant’s name was among those listed — along with Nets teammates Kyrie Irving and Joe Harris.

According to Durant’s business partner, Rich Kleiman, the forward had a say in his name being on the list.

“[Tokyo is] definitely a possibility,” Kleiman said told the Washington Post. “He allowed his name to be in the group of finalists. But there are other benchmarks in front of him that are more important before he makes those decisions.”

Steve Kerr says it’s ‘still a possibility’ Klay Thompson plays in 2020 Tokyo Olympics

Steve Kerr says it’s “still a possibility” Klay Thompson plays for Team USA in the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.

The Golden State Warriors officially announced Klay Thompson would miss the entirety of the 2019-20 season due to a knee injury he suffered in the 2019 NBA Finals.

Thompson won’t play a game for the Warriors this season, but there is still a chance he could lace-up for Team USA over the summer. Thompson was named to the 44-man preliminary roster for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics edition of Team USA basketball.

Thompson’s chances of making the final 12-man Olympic roster hinges on the health of his knee. As the injured “Splash Brother” is progressing through his rehab, the possibility of Thompson playing in the Olympics hasn’t been ruled out.

Before the Warriors played the Houston Rockets, Steve Kerr spoke to reporters, offering insight on Thompson’s chances of making Team USA.

Via Anthony Slater of The Athletic:

It’s not off the table — it’s still a possibility. We haven’t really discussed it. I think the team meets in July, so it’s still quite aways away, but it’s really not anything we’re discussing at this point. It’s just still a possibility.

According to Marc Stein of The New York Times, Thompson is still in contention for a roster spot on Team USA as he continues to rehab his knee.

If Thompson’s knee is fully recovered in time for Team USA’s trip to Tokyo, it’ll be his second appearance in the Summer Games. Thompson was apart of Team USA’s run to gold in the 2016 Olympics in Brazil.

Thompson tallied 9.9 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 21 minutes per contest in the 2016 Olympic Games.

Nets’ Joe Harris: Tatum was ‘probably the best player’ on Team USA

Evidence of the leap forward made by third-year Boston Celtics swingman Jayson Tatum was already getting noticed by the Duke product’s teammates this summer.

While many of us are only just seeing the full extent of Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum’s capabilities in his third season in the NBA, his Team USA alumni already had an inkling this summer.

One of four such FIBA World Cup 2019 participants to also get an All-Star nod (the other three being Celtics teammate Kemba Walker along with the Milwaukee Bucks’ Khris Middleton and Utah Jazz’ Donovan Mitchell), the Duke product made an impression on his summertime teammates despite their eventual seventh-place finish.

Even with such a dismal backdrop to display his growing capabilities, Tatum shone enough to elicit some fairly high praise six months after returning from China for World Cup play.

One such Team USA alumnus is the Brooklyn Nets’ Joe Harris. The sharpshooting wing practically gushed about Tatum’s impact on Team USA.

“I thought Jayson was probably the best player on our team this summer,” offered Harris (courtesy of The Athletic’s Joe Vardon).

“Obviously there were a lot of talented guys there. Unfortunately he got hurt halfway through our trip, but he was leading us in a lot of different areas. It wasn’t this huge statistical thing, I think it was more the presence that he had. What I saw, what he brought every day to practice.”

“It was one of those things where he is super young, but he didn’t act like it, he didn’t play like it, and I could’ve told you this summer that he’d have a pretty good chance to be here today as an All-Star,” added the Virginia product.

While the Missouri native only scored six points in the 2020 NBA All-Star Game, his team won — a marked improvement over the summer’s comparative flop. Still, it’s hard not to imagine how things might have gone differently considering Tatum only played two tournament games for Team USA after spraining an ankle.

The two he missed were the losses resulting in the poor showing.

Averaging 22.4 points, 6.9 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game this season on 38.2 % shooting from beyond the arc and 44.3 % overall, it’s safe to say the young wing has arrived among the NBA’s elite players.

But at 21 years old, the St. Louis native still has room to grow — and will need it if the top of the league’s Eastern Conference continues to bulk up after a decade or longer as the punching bag of Western teams in the postseason.

Based on what we’re seeing so far, though, it looks like the former Blue Devil still has a long way to go before he reaches his peak.

And that’s got to be making opposing general managers nervous.

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Chris Paul named a finalist for 2020 US Men’s Basketball team

Paul is one of 44 players on the list released by USA Basketball. He’s already a two-time Olympian, winning gold in 2008 and 2012.

Chris Paul is one step closer to being an Olympian again.

Paul was one of the 44 finalists for the US Men’s basketball team that was announced by USA basketball on Monday morning.

Should he be selected for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, it would be Paul’s third Olympic appearance, his first since 2012.

Paul won gold medals as part of Team USA at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing and the 2012 Olympics in London.

He’s a perfect 16-0 in Olympic play, averaging 8.3 points, 3.1 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 2.3 steals across both tournaments.

According to the Thunder, “with the 2012 U.S. Olympic team in London, Paul started in each game and grabbed a team-best 20 steals. In Beijing in 2008, he led the team with 33 assists and ranked second with 18 steals.”

Paul is one of the most experienced players on the finalists list.

He’s played in 50 international games in his career, including the 2006 FIBA World Cup in Japan where he brought home a bronze medal.

Also on the list are former Thunder players Russell Westbrook, Kevin Durant, and James Harden.

In his first year in Oklahoma City, Paul is having a resurgence. He was just selected to the 10th All-Star Game of his career, averaging 17.2 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 6.6 assists this season.

The 2020 Olympic Games being on Friday, July 24 and last through Sunday, Aug. 9.

Report: Tobias Harris named a Team USA finalist for 2020 Olympics

Tobias Harris’ shooting ability could have an impact on Team USA much like Carmelo Anthony’s has had in the past.

Though he’s never been an All-Star, Philadelphia 76ers forward Tobias Harris has cemented himself among the NBA’s top 40 players the past two seasons.

A solid scorer, Harris has earned a chance to potentially compete for Team USA in this summer’s Tokyo Olympics. Per Sixers Wire’s Ky Carlin, Harris is among 44 finalists named for the U.S. men’s basketball team. Harris joins fellow Eastern Conference players such as Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown as finalists.

Harris had an opportunity to participate in last summer’s FIBA World Cup, but he withdrew his name from consideration, citing in The Philadelphia Inquirer that he wanted to get some necessary rest. Per the Inquirer, Harris said last August he would like to play in the Olympics for Team USA.

If Harris makes Team USA’s Olympic roster, he could add some scoring punch. Harris plays similarly to Carmelo Anthony, who has had some of the most success of any NBA player in the Olympics. Anthony is Team USA’s all-time leading scorer in Olympic competition, and he has won four medals, with three of them being gold.

Like Anthony, Harris can heat up from deep and score in bunches. The Americans could utilize Harris as a catch-and-shoot forward, as higher-caliber players like Kevin Durant, Steph Curry or LeBron James would draw more attention from defenses.

As the Sixers’ second-leading scorer, Harris is averaging 19.1 points per game this season and shooting 36.7% from the 3-point line. He has shot 36.4% from the 3-point line for his career.

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James Harden, Russell Westbrook named finalists for 2020 Olympics

The All-Star guards and former MVPs from the Rockets are among 44 current NBA players who are in the running for the final 12-man roster.

Houston Rockets guards James Harden and Russell Westbrook indicated in training camp that each hoped to play in the 2020 Olympics.

As of Monday, we now know that both All-Star guards and former MVPs are among USA Basketball’s 44 finalists for the 12-man roster.

“That’s one of my goals, to represent the USA and represent this beautiful country in the games,” Harden said in September.

Harden and Westbrook are 30 and 31 years old, respectively. They won a gold medal together at the 2012 Olympics before each withdrew from consideration on the same day for the 2016 squad.

Harden leads the NBA in scoring with an average of 35.2 points per game this season, along with 7.3 assists and 6.5 rebounds. Meanwhile, Westbrook is averaging 27.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 7.3 assists.

Harden and Westbrook will both be in their mid 30s in the summer of 2024, which might make them reluctant at that age to put their bodies through that type of workload during an NBA offseason.

Thus, 2020 could be their last realistic opportunity to win Olympic gold for the United States. And assuming health, it appears the two Houston stars could potentially embark upon the journey together.

Westbrook and Harden each have plenty of Team USA experience, having played in 28 and 25 international games, respectively.

“Over the course of the remainder of the NBA season, we’ll continue to monitor all of the athletes,” said Jerry Colangelo, who has served as managing director of the USA Basketball Men’s National Team since 2005.

This summer’s Team USA squad will once again be coached by San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich.

The 2020 Olympics will be held from July 24 through Aug. 9 in Tokyo, Japan, with training camp for Team USA starting weeks beforehand.

Twelve nations will compete in the 2020 Olympics competition for men’s basketball, with games held at the Saitama Super Arena. In addition to host Japan, qualified nations to this point include Argentina, Australia, France, Iran, Nigeria, Spain, and the United States.

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Five Celtics named to Team USA’s preliminary roster for 2020 Olympics

The Boston Celtics are tied with the Los Angeles Lakers for the most players named to Team USA’s 44-man preliminary roster for the 2020 Olympic Games.

Team USA’s men’s basketball team has announced their official 44-man preliminary roster for the 2020 Olympic Games, which will be held in Tokyo.

Unsurprisingly, the Celtics will be heavily represented, with five players — tied with the Los Angeles Lakers for the league-high— named to the roster: guards Kemba Walker and Marcus Smart, along with forwards Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Gordon Hayward.

It may have been easy to assume that the first four Celtics named would be on the roster after playing for Team USA in last summer’s qualifiers and earning the praise of Team USA men’s basketball head coach Gregg Popovich (of the San Antonio Spurs).

However, the addition of Hayward, who has looked much like he did in his prime after overcoming a horrific leg and ankle injury that seemed to rob some of his athleticism — and thus his effectiveness — last season, was not predicted. Such an honor is vindication for Hayward, an intelligent playmaker who’s averaging 17.1 points, 6.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 0.7 steals per game this season while shooting 51.2 percent from the field and 38.7 percent from three (and has looked both healthy and athletic while doing so).

Tatum and Brown are also having career seasons with the former seeming to have taken on the mantle of being the best player on the team and the face of the Celtics after the offseason departure of the disgruntled Kyrie Irving.

Tatum is averaging a team-high 22.9 points, 6.9 rebounds, 1.3 steals and 0.9 blocks per game while shooting 44.1 percent from the field and 38.7 percent from three. He’s developed a go-to shot — a sidestep three-pointer — and is more aggressive in attacking the rim then in past seasons. Tatum’s defense, never highlighted as a particular strength of his game, has been quite effective as well. Suffice it to say, with such a strong performance, it’s no surprise that Tatum was named as an All-Star this season.

Brown is a better finisher, ball-handler, shooter and passer than last season. Those improvements have led the renaissance man to averages of 20.2 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game while shooting 49.4 percent from the field and 37.7 percent from three.

Walker, the leader that Boston sorely needed last season, has averaged 22.0 points, 5.0 assists, 4.0 rebounds and 1.0 steal per game while acquitting himself from the common perception that he was a poor defender. The Celtics’ second All-Star this season, Walker has shot 43.6 percent from the field and 39.1 percent from three-point range.

Smart, whose play can’t be summed up with statistics due to the effort he plays with and his gritty, never-say-die, attitude, continues to be the heart and soul of the Celtics team. While the four previously listed players will likely play an important role on offense (and defense), Smart is going to be fine doing the dirty work. However, that doesn’t mean he can’t make plays when needed, as the veteran guard has averaged 12.2 points, 4.8 assists, 3.5 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game.

Though not every player may not make it into Team USA’s finalized roster, this quintet has as good a chance of any of surviving training camp and taking part in the Olympic Games next summer. No matter who makes it or who doesn’t, the Celtics have certainly made their home fans proud this season; their having five players named to the Team USA preliminary roster is just icing on the cake.

Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving among players on USA’s preliminary Olympics roster

Joe Harris could be back with Team USA for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. But, there are other strong candidates to join the team.

Although Team USA had a disappointing ending to their run in the 2019 FIBA World Cup the group — which featured Brooklyn Nets sharpshooter Joe Harris — did the minimum of what they needed to do in order to qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

But, even though the 2019 bunch were the ones who punched America’s ticket for the Olympics, it’s not a guarantee those players will be among those who represent the country in Tokyo over the summer.

The 44-man preliminary roster for the Tokyo Olympics was released on Monday and Harris was on the list, but he was not the lone Brooklyn representative, per Marc Stein of the New York Times.

Nets superstars Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving were the other members of Brooklyn featured on the list.

Other superstars included Los Angeles Clippers wings Paul George and Kawhi Leonard, Los Angeles Lakers forwards Anthony Davis and LeBron James, and Golden State Warriors guards Steph Curry and Klay Thompson.