New Orleans Pelicans star Zion Williamson was placed on Team USA’s potential roster for the Tokyo Olympics on Thursday, one of 15 names added as the team prepares for roster uncertainty as it heads into an unprecedented summer.
New York Knicks ‘Julius Randle and Chicago Bulls’ Zach LaVine, both All-Stars this season as Williamson, were among those added to coach Gregg Popovich’s roster. There were already 42 players on the list, which has now grown to 57 as USA Basketball tries to give itself options for the 12-man team.
Chances are even more players will be eligible when the training camp opens in early July. Team USA’s first game in Tokyo is scheduled for July 25, just three days after the latest possible end date for the NBA Finals.
Team USA’s general manager Jerry Colangelo has lobbied the United States Olympic Committee and FIBA, which directs the Olympic tournament, to allow roster changes up to and perhaps even during the Olympics for players who may be involved in deep playoff runs.
Typically, rosters are drawn up a few weeks before the Olympics. No official statement has been made.
“It is important that we remain flexible and consider all the players who can contribute to our efforts to build the best American team possible,” said Colangelo. “Having a larger player pool than we normally have is critical because of all the uncertainties we face about availability.”
Among the names added to the roster are Miami Heat’s Duncan Robinson and Houston Rockets’ Christian Wood, both of whom have no history with the national team.
The other 55 players on the roster now played in the national team or participated in training camps in the past. On Thursday, the Atlanta Hawks ‘Trae Young, the Cleveland Cavaliers’ Jarrett Allen, the Detroit Pistons ‘Jerami Grant, the Knicks’ Mitchell Robinson, the Toronto Raptors ‘Fred VanVleet, the Rockets’ John Wall and Eric Gordon were also added to the roster. , the Milwaukee Bucks ‘Jrue Holiday and the Brooklyn Nets’ DeAndre Jordan and Blake Griffin.