LaVine In COVID Protocol, Not Traveling With Team USA
Jul 19, 2021, 1:56 PM | Updated: 1:57 pm
Zach LaVine of Team USA (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
(Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Zach LaVine is the latest member of the Team USA Men’s Basketball team to come in close contact with COVID-19.
USA Basketball announced that the Chicago Bulls star would not be traveling with the team to Tokyo on Monday but was hoping to join the team later on in the week.
“Out of an abundance of caution, USA Basketball Men’s National Team member Zach LaVine has been placed under USA Basketball’s health and safety protocols and will not travel with the team to Tokyo today, USA Basketball announced Monday. USA Basketball hopes that Zack will be able to join the team in Tokyo later this week.”
Zach LaVine has been placed under USA Basketball’s health & safety protocols & will not travel with the team to Tokyo today.
We hope that Zach will be able to join the team in Tokyo later this week.
— USA Basketball (@usabasketball) July 19, 2021
LaVine is the third member of Team USA to be placed in the safety protocol after last week Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal and Detroit Pistons forward Jerami Grant both were required to maintain distance from the team.
Beal was ultimately replaced on the roster while Grant will compete with the team in Toyko.
It’s been a tumultuous training camp for Team USA who lost its first two exhibition games against Nigeria and Australia. The star-studded roster bounced back with a win over Argentina but saw their rematch with Australia canceled after Beal’s positive test.
Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love also left the team as he continues to nurse a calf injury that kept him out for most of the NBA season. The roster added San Antonio Spurs forward Keldon Johnson and Denver Nuggets center JaVale McGee to replace Beal and Love.
Keldon Johnson of the @spurs and JaVale McGee of the @nuggets have been reportedly been chosen to replace Bradley Beal and Kevin Love on @usabasketball’s roster for the #TokyoOlympics. 🏀#KSLOlympics https://t.co/iU2VG1W9fy
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) July 16, 2021
The Olympians earned an impressive victory over expected medal-contender Spain Sunday night, before flying to Tokyo on Monday.
Team USA begins their quest for gold on July 25 against France.
