The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Beal off U.S. roster due to health protocols
The Washington Wizards guard was second in the NBA this season with 31.3 points per game. Only Stephen Curry, who passed on the Olympics, averaged more.
On a U.S. basketball team filled with stars, nobody scored more than Bradley Beal during the season.
At the top of his NBA game, he was finally set to take on the international one.
The coronavirus has wrecked his Olympic dreams.
Beal will miss the Olympics after being placed into health and safety protocols and USA Basketball said July 15 it will replace him on its roster at a later date.
“I’m dying for him,” coach Gregg Popovich said. “We all are.”
The Americans also announced that forward Jerami Grant has also been played in health and safety protocols “out of an abundance of caution.” Popovich said the Americans didn’t expect that his Olympics would be in jeopardy.
It is unclear if Beal has been vaccinated. He had started all three exhibition games for the U.S. so far in Las Vegas, averaging 10.3 points on 10-for-21 shooting.
The Washington Wizards guard was second in the NBA this season with 31.3 points per game. Only Stephen Curry, who passed on the Olympics, averaged more.
U.S. forward Bam Adebayo said he checked on Beal, who told him that he had no symptoms. Still, his news was a tough blow to the players who said they have been following safety recommendations and hoped for good health.
“It still definitely gives you PTSD, somebody catching COVID,” Adebayo said. “I remember when I had it, just one of those things I wouldn’t wish on anybody.”
Beal was expected to play for the Americans two years ago in the Basketball World Cup in China, but had to withdraw from consideration before training camp for family reasons.
He finally had his chance to suit up for the senior national team now and he seemed ready for it.
After scoring just two points in the Americans’ loss to Nigeria in their opener, he followed with 12 points against Australia and then had 17 on July 12 against Argentina in the first U.S. victory.