Report: JaVale McGee and Keldon Johnson joining Team USA for Tokyo Olympics

Scott Rafferty

Report: JaVale McGee and Keldon Johnson joining Team USA for Tokyo Olympics image

Keldon Johnson and JaVale McGee will join Team USA for the upcoming Olympics, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojarowski.

The two will reportedly replace Bradley Beal and Kevin Love. USA Basketball announced earlier this week that Beal will be unable to participate in the Tokyo Olympics after entering health and safety protocols while it was reported on Friday (ET) that Love has withdrawn, saying he's not in the "absolute peak performance" he needs to be in to compete at the Olympic level.

Wojnarowski notes that Love is "still returning to full form" from the calf injury that limited him in the 2020-21 NBA season.

The No. 29 pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, Johnson is coming off a strong sophomore season with the San Antonio Spurs that saw him average 12.8 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game.

The No. 18 pick in the 2008 NBA Draft, McGee is a three-time NBA champion who split the 2020-21 season with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Denver Nuggets.

According to Wojnarowski, Johnson, who had been playing on the USA Select team, has become a "favorite of decision-makers and staff." McGee, meanwhile, had reportedly been a finalist for the Team USA roster.

Team USA will play their first game of the Tokyo Olympics against France on July 25. They will then play Iran on July 28 and Czech Republic on July 31 to close group play.

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Scott Rafferty

Scott Rafferty Photo

 

Scott Rafferty is an experienced NBA journalist who first started writing for The Sporting News in 2017. There are few things he appreciates more than a Nikola Jokic no-look pass, Klay Thompson heat check or Giannis Antetokounmpo eurostep. He's a member of the NBA Global team.