On Monday, USA Basketball announced that Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal was officially named to the 2020 Olympic men’s basketball team. He will be joined by Bam Adebayo (Miami Heat), Devin Booker (Phoenix Suns), Kevin Durant (Brooklyn Nets), Jerami Grant (Detroit Pistons), Draymond Green (Golden State Warriors), Jrue Holiday (Milwaukee Bucks), Zach LaVine (Chicago Bulls), Damian Lillard (Portland Trail Blazers), Kevin Love (Cleveland Cavaliers), Khris Middleton (Milwaukee Bucks) and Jayson Tatum (Boston Celtics). The head coach is Gregg Popovich of the San Antonio Spurs.
The news is historic for the Wizards because this is the first time they have had a player named to the Olympics since NBA players were allowed to play in 1992.
In a release by the Wizards, Beal said “To be selected to the United States Olympic team is an honor and a blessing. Representing my country on the world’s biggest stage alongside so many of the league’s best players is a privilege that both humbles and inspires me.”
The Olympic team this year is even balanced from the respect that there is only one player represented from each NBA team that is represented with the exception of the Bucks who have two players. The most experienced Olympian on the roster is Durant, who was on both the 2012 and 2016 teams that won the Gold Medal in London, United Kingdom and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, respectively.
With the team now named, training camp will be from July 6-18 at UNLV. There will be a series of friendlies at the Michelob ULTRA Arena at Mandalay Bay, the home of the Las Vegas Aces WNBA team on the following dates and times:
- July 10 vs. Nigeria at 5 p.m. ET.
- July 12 vs. Australia at 5 p.m. ET.
- July 13 vs. Argentina at 3 p.m. ET.
- July 16 vs. Australia at 3 p.m. ET.
- July 18 vs. Spain at 6 p.m. ET.
The Olympics will begin on July 24 and run through Aug. 7 in Japan. Team USA’s first game will be on July 25 at 8 a.m. ET against France.