Team USA Replaces Bradley Beal and Kevin Love


The USA men’s national basketball team has added San Antonio Spurs’ Keldon Johnson and Denver Nuggets’ JaVale McGee to its roster after two other players were unable to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics due to health reasons.

Bradley Beal, a guard who is expected to be one of the top scorers in the United States, will miss the Olympics after the coronavirus is placed in health and safety protocols. Kevin Love withdrew from the competition on Friday due to an ongoing calf injury.

Team USA also canceled Friday’s exhibition against Australia and featured Jerami Grant in their coronavirus protocols, as the team faced many challenges ahead of the Olympics, which begin next week. Team USA coach Gregg Popovich told reporters he still expects Grant to qualify for the Olympics.

Beal started all three shows and averaged 10.3 points per game on 21v10 shooting. He finished second in the NBA this season with 31.3 points per game for the Washington Wizards.

“It was his dream since he was little and he was playing great,” Popovich told reporters. “It’s devastating for him and his immediate family. We just feel terrible about it. ”

The men’s team had a shaky start to defending their three consecutive gold medals. Team USA started with exhibition losses to Nigeria and Australia before blowing up Argentina.

Top players like LeBron James (Lakers), Jimmy Butler (Heat), Kyrie Irving (Nets) and James Harden (Nets) declined to qualify for the Olympics after a busy season last year. Squad forward Jayson Tatum (Celtics) is dealing with right knee pain. Also on the team: Bam Adebayo (Heat), Kevin Durant (Nets), Draymond Green (Golden State), Zach LaVine (Bulls) and Damian Lillard (Trail Blazers).

Milwaukee’s Jrue Holiday and Khris Middleton and Phoenix’s Devin Booker are expected to join the team following the conclusion of the NBA finals. The best-of-seven streak tied in two games with Game 5 at Phoenix on Saturday.



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