Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo is committed to joining the 12-man Team USA roster for the Summer Olympics in Tokyo, his agent Alex Sartsis told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski on Monday. In addition, Brooklyn's James Harden has told the national team that he is committed to playing in the Tokyo Games according to multiple reports and first reported by The Athletic.
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 Jason Tatum, Phoenix's Devin Booker and Portland's Damien Lillard.
One of the final places, however, will not go to Stephen Curry of the Golden State. The Associated Press reports that Curry has declined an invitation to be part of the team, citing off-season commitments.
Utah guard Donovan Mitchell has also 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 condition is considered somewhat temporary, given that in the NBA playoffs he was described as having a grade 2 hamstring strain. As the AP reports, his commitment continues for his leg to recover and there is no additional setback in the coming weeks.
Durant scored 48 points, an NBA record for 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 will be bidding for a third consecutive gold medal - and will seem a lock to replace Carmelo Anthony as USA Basketball's leading Olympic scorer. Anthony won the U.S. Olympic Games has scored 336 marks for; Durant has scored 311 runs.
"I think our people are good 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 play for my country and get the opportunity to go there, and enjoy the summer and win an Olympic gold medal."
Marx said he had no problem if Durant chose to play; It was Durant's first NBA season after missing a full year to recover from an Achilles injury.
"I think Kevin, as I said earlier, is very difficult to play for his country," Marx said. "Having that opportunity is like no other, so I think Kevin knows it. Kevin knows if his body feels right and if he's up for the task, go with a lot of his closest friends. And what a wonderful opportunity to play and a very unique experience."
The Clippers' Paul George - and, if healthy, Kawhi Leonard - are players who have given USA Basketball some indication in recent weeks that they would like to play on the Olympic team, although it is unknown whether they have made a final decision. .
Also believed to be of interest is Phoenix guard Chris Paul, who was part of the US teams that won Olympic gold at the 2008 Beijing Games and 2012 London Games.