LaVine enters protocol, not on Team USA flight

Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine was placed into COVID-19 safety protocols on Monday and did not join his US Olympic basketball teammates in traveling to Japan for the Olympics.

USA Basketball said it hopes LaVine will be able to travel to Tokyo later this week and join his fellow NBA stars in time for Sunday’s Olympic opener against France.

A USA Basketball statement said LaVine did not travel with the team “out of an abundance of caution” after starting COVID-19 health and safety measures, but did not say if he contracted the virus or was being kept back for contact tracing.

LaVine scored 13 points for the Americans on Sunday in an 83-76 exhibition victory over reigning Basketball World Cup champion Spain in Las Vegas.

The US squad has already lost Washington guard Bradley Beal after he was placed into COVID-19 protocols and center Kevin Love to a calf injury.

The Americans added Denver Nuggets center JaVale McGee and San Antonio Spurs guard Keldon Johnson to replace Beal and Love.