Tokyo: The trio of players who made the unprecedented jump from the NBA Finals to the Olympics are set to take place in Japan by Saturday.
According to coach Greg Popovich, Devin Booker, Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday are expected to be available when Team USA play against France on Sunday.
After attending the Milwaukee Bucks championship parade on Thursday, Middleton and Holiday are scheduled to fly to Seattle on Friday. There, they will join Booker, whom the Phoenix Suns helped finish Tuesday, and take a private plane to Tokyo.
The pivot has happened over the years, from being a rival in the NBA to playing the highest stakes to teammates going for gold medals in the national team, but it never happened all of a sudden, making it one more time in Team USA's already lucrative history. Made one of the weirdest scenarios. star player.
Booker discussed going from enemy to teammate with Bucks players this week, saying, "I'd just say understand the competition and it's never personal who you're going with, as long as the lines cross." Don't be." “Those guys are not that type and I would never go with them that way, because there is a high level of respect for each other. Representing your country compares to competing against each other in the NBA Finals. I have a completely different dynamic, but I can always respect someone who competes at the highest level."
With lengthy procedures for entry into Japan, it is unlikely that new arrivals will get much more than a light walk with the rest of Team USA, which is in Japan since Tuesday. But with an expected tough test against the French, Popovich plans to use his reinforcements immediately, even if he isn't sure how it will go.
Popovich said, "I don't know [how to use them]. I'm not trying to be glib. I'm trying to be transparent." "Maybe they are fine for [Sunday] game and it comes to them after two days. Maybe we should play them in the first half and see how they are."