It is unclear how much coach Gregg Popovich can rely on the three to play, but he indicated his plan is to use them against the French, who project to be the toughest matchup the Americans will face in a pool-play round that also includes games against Iran and the Czech Republic. “We obviously know they’re in shape. They’re tired. They just went through a roller coaster of emotion,” Team USA guard Zach LaVine said. “I think they’ll be ready to go, and we’ll see what happens. But as for the team, I think we need to be ready for everything. If they’re not ready to go, then we have to go out there and perform still.”
Zach LaVine Rumors
All NBA Players
Position: G
Born: 03/10/95
Height: 6-6 / 1.98
Weight:181 lbs. / 82.1 kg.
Salary: $19,500,000
Born: 03/10/95
Height: 6-6 / 1.98
Weight:181 lbs. / 82.1 kg.
Salary: $19,500,000
KC Johnson: Speaking via Zoom from Tokyo, Zach LaVine said experiencing his first Olympic opening ceremony was “powerful” and he tried to soak up the history of the moment. Also called landing in health and safety protocol “shocking.”
LaVine, who started the final exhibition games, said he feels fine from a basketball and conditioning standpoint after his brief stay in quarantine. The games start for real now, pushing him to his preferred mode of competitor. “We know how good they are,” LaVine said of France. “But we also know how good we are too. We went over the film and understand what they do. But I think we’re more focused on what we do. Because if we do what we do good, I don’t think there’s any team out here that’s going to come close to us.”
Marc J. Spears: USA Basketball Team member Zach LaVine has cleared USA Basketball’s health and safety protocols and will join the USA team in Tokyo Thursday afternoon. LaVine, who went into USA Basketball’s health and safety protocols Monday and did not travel with the team to Tokyo.
SNY’s Ian Begley reported Monday the Knicks might instead prioritize maintaining future financial flexibility: “As recently as last month, a source said the Knicks have talked internally about the possibility of holding enough cap space this summer for 2022 and keeping enough money around to be able to go after a max player in that 2022 class, which should include Zach LaVine and Bradley Beal.”
After his original caption stated, “Off to Tokyo!” LaVine followed it up with a rather disheartening comment on Monday. “Or not,” he wrote, accompanied by a couple of sad emojis.
