USA Basketball hopes that the postponed Tokyo Olympics will take place next year at the roughly the same time they were supposed to occur this year.
Otherwise, the situation which is already complex could become even more challenging for coaches and players.
> IOC officially postpones Tokyo Olympics
Jerry Colangelo, the Managing Director of USA Basketball, stated on Tuesday that he has temporarily halted preparations for the next Olympics. Colangelo mentioned that at present, all that can be done is to wait and see the exact dates in 2021 for the Tokyo games, and whether the new schedule will overlap with that of the NBA.
“It’s pretty simple, isn’t it? We either have NBA players or we don’t,” Colangelo told The Associated Press. “And if we don’t, we’ll look at the other options.”
Currently, Colangelo is dedicated to maintaining his position until 2021, a commitment echoed by the coaching staff. The U.S. team is being coached by Gregg Popovich from the San Antonio Spurs, with assistant coaches Steve Kerr from the Golden State Warriors, Lloyd Pierce from the Atlanta Hawks, and Jay Wright from Villanova.
However, that’s all subject to the schedule.
This summer’s Olympics were to begin July 24, which typically is part of the NBA offseason. When the International Olympic Committee announced the postponement of this summer’s games on Tuesday, a decision made because of the global coronavirus pandemic, it said the delay would last “no more than one year.”
The phrasing implies a potential for an earlier-than-normal Olympics. Should the Tokyo Games take place in April, May, or June, the U.S. plans may undergo significant alterations.
“Colangelo expressed optimism that the event would take place around the same time next summer as it was planned for this summer. He acknowledged several factors beyond their control that need to be addressed. He said they are in a position of following the decisions made by other entities such as the NBA, FIBA, the USOC, and the International Olympic Committee among others. The key point of uncertainty at present, he noted, is the date of the event. Once these dates are set, they will proceed with their plans,” he said.
USA Basketball intended to select the 12-man roster for the Tokyo Olympics in June. With 44 players being considered, it is presumed that if the NBA players can participate in 2021, the majority if not all of these players will probably be included in next year’s list.
“Colangelo said, “These are unconventional times. However, when the bell rings, we will prepare ourselves.”
