Numerous NBA stars declined to play for Team USA in the FIBA World Cup this summer, which resulted in the worst ever placement at a major tournament. The Americans managed to claim 7th place after losing to France in the quarterfinals, and that’s far from a satisfying result for the biggest favorite before the championship.
However, that will change for the upcoming 2020 Olympics in Japan. High-profile players should return and Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green is just one of them. Green is looking to make himself available in 2020. Green also believes that a lot of other NBA stars will play at the Olympics.
“I do hope to play, and I think a lot of guys will want to play,” Green said on CNBC’s ‘Power Money.’ “The schedule this year was a little treacherous with the games that was in America, and also the travel to Australia, which is why I think a lot of guys dropped out. You know, a long ways to China. It was just a lot, and it also leads right into the season. Those guys will be coming back in the next couple days and we’ll be two weeks away from training camp. I think you’ll see a lot of guys participating next year in the Olympics, and I hope to be one of those 12 guys,” Green concluded.
"I hope to be one of those 12 guys."
Draymond Green is throwing his name into the hat for the 2020 Olympics after seeing Team USA stumble in the FIBA World Cup (via @Wittnessed)https://t.co/IYL2BMPXLS pic.twitter.com/wMnaWShfOS
— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) September 13, 2019
New York Times’ writer Marc Stein also expects that Green’s teammate Stephen Curry would also be available to play for Team USA in 2020. It would be Curry’s first-ever appearance at the Olympics.
H/T: NBC Sports
