Team USA update: Jayson Tatum practicing with team, but Bradley Beal out for Olympics

The Celtics star’s knee is evidently doing better, but he won’t get to play with lifelong friend Bradley Beal in the Olympics.

Boston Celtics fans keeping tabs on the U.S. National Team‘s preparations for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics will be relieved to hear that star Celtics forward Jayson Tatum practiced with Team USA earlier today according to head coach Gregg Popovich.

The Duke product had sat out the U.S. team’s exhibition win over the Argentinian National Team earlier this week with knee soreness, prompting concern among fans and analysts alike given the brutal schedule and injuries many NBAers have endured. Tatum may not be so happy however, with news that fellow St. Louis native Bradley Beal will be replaced on Team USA after entering their health and safety protocols “out of an abundance of caution” according to a release circulated by the organization.

USA Basketball is not sharing whether Beal is suffering from an active case of COVID-19, but regardless it puts an end to both Beal and Tatum’s anticipation of playing together for the first time in a non-exhibition context.

This post originally appeared on Celtics Wire. Follow us on Facebook!

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