Bradley Beal To Miss Tokyo Olympics

Washington Wizards All-Star Bradley Beal will not be going to Tokyo for the Olympics. Team USA announced this on Twitter Thursday.

Bradley Beal, who was placed under USA Basketball’s health & safety protocols on Wednesday, will remain in protocol & will be unable to participate in the Tokyo Olympic Games. Out of an abundance of caution, Jerami Grant has been placed under health & safety protocols. – Team USA 

Head coach Greg Popovich and teammate Draymond Green commented on the situation.

“I’m dying for Beal. We all are. Since he was a little kid, this has been a dream of his, and he was playing great. … For him and his immediate family, it’s devastating. We just feel horrible about it.” – Coach. Popovich

“It’s costing people opportunities of a lifetime. It sucks. “We all came in hoping we wouldn’t be affected by it. It’s just not the way it’s gone.” – Draymond Green

It’s unknown who will replace Beal on the roster but Atlanta Hawks All-Star guard Trae Young has expressed interest in replacing Beal. Young is an amazing scorer and facilitator who could run the Team USA offense. He is especially dangerous in the pick and roll game.

Team USA and Australia will not be playing their exhibition game on Friday, as both teams are continuing to take caution. The final exhibition game for Team USA will be against Spain on Sunday. They then will take off for Japan on Monday.

The team has been garnered attention from losing their first two exhibition games against Nigeria and Australia. They managed to gain their first win against Argentina.

The women’s Team USA game against Australia will still happen on Friday. It airs at 2:30 PM ET on NBCSN.