More details are emerging about Team USA. With the 2016 Rio Olympics fast approaching, more news is breaking about who will join the team. With many players bowing out due to injury concerns and perhaps the Zika virus, there will be major changes across the board.
Most recently, Kawhi Leonard announced that he will not be joining the team. After winning the Defensive Player of the Year award once again, Leonard was billed to be one of the stars of Team USA in Rio. There have been no indications as to why Leonard is withdrawing his name from consideration. He did, however, release the following statement via the Spurs:
“This was a very difficult decision. It’s an honor to have been considered for the team and I hope that in the future I will have the chance to represent my country by playing for USA Basketball.”
Meanwhile, Team USA is reportedly getting a commitment from a different wing player. According to Shams Charania of the Vertical, DeMar DeRozan has accepted a place with the national team.
DeRozan previously played for Team USA in 2014 when the squad won gold at the FIBA World Cup. DeRozan will be joining his Raptors teammate Kyle Lowry on the team.
Losing Leonard is another blow to Team USA who has seen many major names pull out of consideration. But as DeMar DeRozan shows in this case, there are still plenty of very talented players eager to represent the country in Rio.
