Phoenix Suns star Chris Paul has declined an invitation to play for Team USA at the Summer Olympics, league sources told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.
Sources said that USA Basketball knew Paul had been leaning towards the decision for several days. The Sons are in the Western Conference Finals against the LA Clippers, and if they reach the NBA Finals, there will be almost no break for Paul from the end of the NBA season until the start of the Tokyo Olympics. Game 7 of the Finals is scheduled for July 22, and Team USA's first Olympic game against France is July 25.
Paul West missed Game 1 of the final and didn't play Game 2 after entering into NBA health and safety protocols last Wednesday. His return to play is uncertain, although sources say there is optimism within the team that he could return for Game 3 on Thursday.
Paul, 36, was part of the US teams that won Olympic gold at the 2008 Beijing Games and 2012 London Games. He also withdrew from the Rio de Janeiro Games in 2016.
Sources told ESPN that Toronto Raptors guard Kyle Lowry has also declined an invitation to join the 12-man Team USA roster because of his imminent free agency this summer.