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Heat's Adebayo commits to play for USA in Tokyo

Jun. 21, 2021
Heat's Adebayo commits to play for USA in Tokyo

USA Basketball's Olympic men's roster is getting closer to filled, with now as many as eight spots on the 12-person team claimed.

Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo committed to join the 12-man Team USA roster for the Summer Olympics in Tokyo, his agent, Alex Saratsis, told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski on Monday. In addition, Brooklyn's James Harden has told the national team that he is committed to playing at the Tokyo Games, according to multiple reports and first reported by The Athletic.

The eight commitments, confirmed by ESPN or multiple reports: Adebayo, Harden, Brooklyn's Kevin Durant, Golden State's Draymond Green, Washington's Bradley Beal, Boston's Jayson Tatum, Phoenix's Devin Booker and Portland's Damian Lillard.

One of the final spots, though, won't be going to Golden State's Stephen Curry. The Associated Press reports that Curry has declined an invitation to be part of the team, citing offseason commitments.

Utah guard Donovan Mitchell also has declined an invitation to join Team USA for the Olympics, sources told Wojnarowski. Instead, Mitchell will use the time to recover and rehab from his right ankle injury.

Harden's status is considered somewhat tentative, considering that he was slowed in the NBA playoffs by what he described as a Grade 2 hamstring strain. His commitment is contingent on his leg continuing to heal and there not being any additional setbacks in the coming weeks, AP reports.

Durant scored 48 points, an NBA record for a Game 7, in Brooklyn's loss to Milwaukee on Saturday in the second round of the Eastern Conference playoffs. If he plays in Tokyo, Durant would be bidding for a third consecutive gold medal -- and would seem a lock to supplant Carmelo Anthony as USA Basketball's leading Olympic scorer. Anthony has scored 336 points for the U.S. in Olympic play; Durant has scored 311.

"I think our guys have been through this enough to realize what's best for them, what's best for their body and what their ultimate goal is," Brooklyn general manager Sean Marks said Monday. "It's very difficult to turn down playing for your country and having the opportunity to go out there, and having a heck of a summer and win an Olympic gold medal."

Marks said he did not have any issue if Durant chooses to play; this was Durant's first NBA season back after missing a full year to recover from an Achilles injury.

"I think Kevin, as I said before, it's very difficult to turn down playing for your country," Marks said. "Having that opportunity is like none other, so I think Kevin knows this. Kevin knows that if his body feels right and if he's up for the task, what a great opportunity to go and play alongside a lot of his close friends and go and have a very, very unique experience."

The Clippers' Paul George -- and, if healthy, Kawhi Leonard -- are players who have also given some indication to USA Basketball in recent weeks that they would like to play on the Olympic team, though it remains unknown whether they have made a final decision.

Also believed to be interested is Phoenix guard Chris Paul, who was part of the U.S. teams that won Olympic gold at the 2008 Beijing Games and the 2012 London Games.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.


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