Aside from what the Milwaukee Bucks are trying to achieve in the NBA playoffs, Khris Middleton usually wouldn't be thinking of anything right now.
Invitation to play in Olympics is not common.
Milwaukee plans Guard Middleton and Jure Holiday to compete in the U.S. at the Tokyo Olympics next month. However, the two insist that the Bucks' quest to win the franchise's first NBA title in 50 years isn't distracting.
"We are in the middle of a championship run," Middleton said. "Taking a second to think about something outside this season was a little hard to think about. But it was an easy decision for me to move on and commit."
Middleton, Holiday and Devin Booker of Phoenix are the three members of the team, as it is currently formed, still to participate in the NBA playoffs. The Bucks are in the Eastern Conference Finals against the Atlanta Hawks; The Sons face the LA Clippers in the finals of the Western Conference.
Rest of the Olympic team: Jayson Tatum of Boston, Bam Adebayo of Miami, Kevin Durant of Brooklyn, Zach LaVine of Chicago, Kevin Love of Cleveland, Damien Lillard of Portland, Jeremy Grant of Detroit, Bradley Beal of Washington and Draymond Green of Golden State. Those nine players will begin practice in Las Vegas on July 6.
Middleton, Holiday and Booker plan to join the team after the NBA season ends. If needed, USA Basketball will take him to Tokyo, separate from the rest of the Olympic team. The US team plans to arrive in Tokyo around July 21, two days before the opening ceremony. Game 7 of the NBA Finals, if necessary, will take place on July 22, and is the first U.S. event at the Olympics. The men's game will take place on 25 July.
"I feel like I'm always focused on the immediate, what's happening right now. That's been my main focus, and it will continue to be," Holiday said. "If we go to the finals or whatever happens, up to that point, that's what matters."
Holiday has experienced the Olympics before—as a fan. His wife, Lauren Holiday, visited the U.S. in 2008 and 2012. She won Olympic gold medals as part of the women's soccer team, and is now hoping to add to the family's medal collection.
"I thought it would be cool to experience it from actually playing," said Jew Holiday.
Middleton said that Olympic decision-making during the playoff race was "a bit challenging" but he was able to focus quickly after making a commitment to USA Basketball. Holiday also said that it wasn't a very difficult choice.
"I don't think I had to shift my focus," Holiday said. "I think it's an honor to play for your country, especially an opportunity like this one to go out there and have 'USA' on your chest."