The two stars of the Los Angeles Lakers, LeBron James and Anthony Davis, will not defend the colors of the United States in the Olympic basketball tournament in Tokyo, several local media reported on Monday.
Prematurely eliminated in the first round of the playoffs, after the lost series against Phoenix, the duo are on vacation after a difficult season, during which each suffered injuries, so they will not be part of the ‘Dream Team’ that will defend the Olympic gold obtained in Rio-2016, stated The Athletic site, citing sources close to the players.
LeBron, 36, suffered a severe right ankle sprain that kept him off the court for a month. He had been recovered in time for the playoffs, which he played without being at 100% athletic ability.
For his part, Davis suffered for the first time from a great inflammation of the right Achilles tendon that moved to his calf. Absent for two months, he was also able to return against Phoenix, but during Game 4 he injured his groin.
Davis returned for Game 6, but only lasted a few minutes because of pain, giving up to continue the game, which they lost to be eliminated.
When the match ended, LeBron was asked about the possibility of joining the United States team this summer, responding, somewhat jokingly, “No, I think I’ll play for Tune Squad this summer instead of the Olympics.” An allusion to “Space Jam: A New Legacy”, a film that combines real and animated images, of which he is the star and which is due to be released in American theaters a week before the start of the Olympic Games (July 23 -8 August).
Gold medalist in Beijing-2008 and London-2012, LeBron had not played in the Rio Games, after his third NBA coronation with Cleveland.
Davis, who had also been an Olympic champion in 2012, had also given up in 2016, because he had had surgery on his left shoulder.
In March, the American Basketball Federation had compiled a shortlist of 57 shortlisted for twelve spots on the United States national team.
Stephen Curry and Damian Lillard, whose season also ended with Golden State and Portland, could be among the nominees, according to The Athletic.
The former could win a first Olympic gold medal, while the latter is “very interested.”