Chris Paul’s wife wanted to go to Tokyo, so he planned to play in the Olympics.
But the coronavirus pandemic caused the Games to be postponed a year. Paul turned 36, which would have made him the oldest player ever to to play for the United States men’s basketball team in the Olympics. He has led the Suns into the Western Conference finals, and Phoenix is favored to reach the NBA Finals.
So, Paul isn’t taking his wife to Tokyo.
But another point guard, the Bucks’ Jrue Holiday, is set to join Team USA.
Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN:
Milwaukee guard Jrue Holiday has committed to play for Team USA in the Summer Olympics, source tells ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 22, 2021
Phoenix Suns star Chris Paul has declined an invitation to play for Team USA in the Summer Olympics, league sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 22, 2021
It’s unclear whether Bucks teammates Holiday (31) and Khris Middleton (29) made conditional commitments based on how far Milwaukee goes in the playoffs. (Suns guard Devin Booker is in regardless of Phoenix’s postseason fortunes). But if everyone is set on going to Tokyo, that makes 11 of 12 roster spots filled:
- Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard
- Nets guard James Harden
- Bucks guard Jrue Holiday
- Suns guard Devin Booker
- Wizards guard Bradley Beal
- Bucks wing Khris Middleton
- Celtics forward Jayson Tatum
- Nets forward Kevin Durant
- Warriors forward Draymond Green
- Cavaliers big Kevin Love
- Heat center Bam Adebayo
Holiday provides a much-needed defensive element in the backcourt. Especially because he’s good enough as an offensive player not to be considered a specialist.
The Americans could use another center – ideally someone with more size than Green and Adebayo, more shooting ability than Green and Adebayo and more defensive effectiveness than Love. Bucks center Brook Lopez and Pacers center Myles Turner look like reasonable candidates.
Or the U.S. could get an even better player at another position, sacrificing fit but becoming more capable of overwhelming opponents with talent.