Team USA Loses 2 NBA Veterans Ahead Of Tokyo Olympics

By Jason Hall

July 16, 2021

Nigeria v United States
Photo: Getty Images North America

Team USA has reportedly lost two NBA veterans ahead of the pandemic-delayed Tokyo Summer Olympics.

On Thursday (July 15), Team USA announced Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal was ruled as unable to participate in the upcoming Summer Games one day after being placed in health and safety protocols.

On Friday (July 16), Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love announced his decision to withdraw from Team USA and the Tokyo Olympics due to an ongoing calf injury in a statement issued by his agent, Jeff Schawtz, to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

"I am incredibly disappointed to not be heading to Tokyo with Team USA, but you need to be at absolute peak performance to compete at the Olympic level and I am just not there yet," Love said in the statement.

Team USA also placed Detroit Pistons forward Jerami Grant in the health and safety protocols along with Beal on Thursday, but confirmed Grant will remain with the team.

Additionally, Team USA announced its exhibition game against Australia initially scheduled for Friday (July 16) was cancelled "out of an abundance of caution."

The USA Women's National Team will play its Friday matchup against Australia as originally scheduled.

The departures come amid Team USA's early struggles through its pre-Olympic training schedule.

The Americans dropped back-to-back upset losses to Nigeria last Saturday (July 10) and Australia on Monday (July 12).

Team USA has won Gold in each of the last three Summer Olympics tournaments.

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