Report: Beal Out, Grant In Covid Protocol For Team USA
Jul 15, 2021, 12:33 PM | Updated: 1:13 pm
Team USA guard Bradley Beal (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
(Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – A rough start in Las Vegas for the Team USA Men’s Basketball roster just got tougher. According to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, two key pieces for Team USA have entered the COVID-19 protocol ahead of the Olympic Games in Tokyo.
Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal reportedly entered the testing protocol on Wednesday while Charania tweeted that Detroit Pistons forward Jerami Grant entered protocol on Thursday.
By Thursday afternoon, it was decided that Beal would not be joining the Team USA roster in Tokyo.
Wizards' Bradley Beal will not play in the Tokyo Olympics for Team USA, USAB says.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 15, 2021
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the team will look at replacing Beal ahead of the games.
Though Beal won’t be with the team, Grant’s ability to return might be more likely.
“Grant has not tested positive for coronavirus,” Charania tweeted. “He and Bradley Beal are in protocols in Las Vegas.”
Beal and Grant have been in Las Vegas with Team USA during the pre-Olympic friendlies which have not gone as expected for the superstar-laden roster. The Americans were beaten by Nigeria in their first scrimmage of the week, followed up by a loss to the Boomers of Australia two days later.
Joe Ingles and Australia proved they are serious medal contenders with their win over Team USA. https://t.co/Pn7mGJEr5H
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) July 13, 2021
Team USA righted the ship with a blowout victory over Argentina, but confidence in the team’s international dominance has been shaken.
Team USA could add an alternate from the select team roster to fill the void. The group will also get a boost when the NBA Finals conclude as Devin Booker of the Phoenix Suns, and Jrue Holiday and Khris Middleton of the Milwaukee Bucks are expected to join the roster.
Team USA has two remaining friendlies against Australia and Spain this weekend before heading to Tokyo.
