Rio de Janeiro is hosting this year’s Summer Olympics and many NBA players have already committed and some have declined to Team USA. Carmelo Anthony, Jimmy Butler, and Kyle Lowry were recently added to the list.
Last month, Anthony,32, was unsure if he could play because of concerns over the Zika virus. The mosquito-borne illness is now affecting Brazil. Anthony has a chance to win his third Olympic gold medal. He was gold with the U.S. in 2008 and 2012. He won a bronze gold medal in 2004.
Butler,26, and Lowry,30, will play with Team USA for the first time in their careers. Butler averaged 20.9 points and 5.3 rebounds this year in his fifth season with the Chicago Bulls. Kyle Lowry averaged 21.2 points and 6.4 assists this year in his fourth season with the Toronto Raptors.
Kevin Durant will also play in Rio after he confirmed earlier this week. Sources have told The Undefeated that DeMarcus Cousins, Draymond Green and Paul George will also represent Team USA. After their long playoff runs,sources have told ESPN that Team USA remains positive that Cavaliers Kyrie Irving and Warriors Klay Thompson will accept their Summer Olympic invites.
The NBA players that won’t be making the trip to Rio as of now will be LeBron James, Chris Paul and Damian Lillard. James told various reporters at the Cavaliers championship parade that he wants to wind down after a long season. Chris Paul explained the same reasoning; he wants to rest for the summer. for Lillard, the Vertical reported that he won’t be playing because of injury. He will continue to rehab his plantar fasciitis that he injured late in the season.
The Olympic basketball tournament will start Aug.6-21 in Rio de Janeiro. Duke University head coach Mike Krzyzewski,69, will coach the USA Men’s National Team (Team USA) and his aiming for his ninth gold medal. He’s amassed a total record of 75-1 (.987) as USA’s head coach.
