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Bradley Beal named a finalist to 2020 USA Basketball men’s national team

Depending on how the pool shakes up, the Washington Wizards guard may have a shot to get to Tokyo as well.

By Albert Lee
Memphis Grizzlies v Washington Wizards
Bradley Beal still has a shot to make the American national team.
Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images

On Monday, USA Basketball announced that Bradley Beal was among the finalists for the men’s national team for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. The USA made the Olympics in the 2019 FIBA World Cup, where they finished seventh, and second among FIBA Americas teams.

The Wizards guard has been named a finalist in 2016 and 2019, but turned down an invite for the Olympic team in 2016. In 2019, his second son, Braylon was born.

While I would like to see Beal make the final team, he is a long shot. And I will go so far to say that he is toward the bottom of the list, in part because he turned down the Olympic invite four years ago. Also, there are many younger perimeter players looking to make their mark for the national team.

Finally, there are 44 names on the roster. More of America’s top NBA players may play for the national team in light of last year’s disappointment in the World Cup.

That said, you never know, because American men’s players are more likely to turn down invites than players from other countries. If there are many players who turns down, and if Beal wants to play in the Olympics though he is getting married this summer, then you never know. I’m still hoping he will represent the USA!