Earlier this news, the news dropped that the Chicago Bulls star shooting guard Zach LaVine would not travel with the United States men’s basketball team to Tokyo, Japan, on the initial flight to Tokyo, Japan, for the 2020 Summer Olympics Games. He was placed in health and safety protocol due to COVID-19 precautions.
But a report from K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago “suggested” that the COVID-19 testing process for LaVine could’ve produced a false or inconclusive result prior to the flight to Tokyo for Team USA.
An official release from USA Basketball on Twitter on July 20 also showed that LaVine is set to rejoin the team in Tokyo this week, which should mean he’ll be ready to go against France. Team USA is set to open up pool play in Tokyo for the Olympics on July 25 against the French side.
U.S. Olympic Team member Zach LaVine has cleared USA Basketball's health & safety protocols. LaVine will join the USA team in Tokyo Thursday afternoon.
— USA Basketball (@usabasketball) July 21, 2021
Regarding Zach LaVine, Kevin Durant said Team USA was “on edge about his next test,” which suggests LaVine’s delay could’ve been tied to a false positive or inconclusive result as much as contact tracing. Either way, LaVine is Tokyo-bound. And Durant acknowledged the good news.
— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) July 21, 2021
Chicago Bulls’ star Zach LaVine looks to be ready for Team USA vs. France
This delay didn’t last all that long for LaVine in the health and safety protocol. But that is something he went through with the Bulls down the stretch during the regular season. This just lasted a much shorter span of time than it did during the regular season with the Bulls a few months back.
Zach LaVine exits health and safety protocols that stemmed from a testing-related issue and will fly to Japan to rejoin the team on Thursday.
— Chicago Tribune Sports (@ChicagoSports) July 21, 2021
USA Basketball expects to have its full 12-man roster available for Sunday’s matchup against France.https://t.co/vl6WYTfC1P
Various reports indicate that Team USA does expect to have the full 12-man roster available against France for July 25. That would mean that LaVine would be back in the mix for head coach Gregg Popovich to open up this Olympic run for the United States.
It’s good to hear that LaVine sounds ready to go for this Olympic run. This will be his first run in the Olympics with the United States. And he really started to find his rhythm on the court in the last few exhibition games with the team in the pre-Olympic circuit.
LaVine is having a big year that could only continue to get more prominent from here. He was a first-time All-Star selection with the Bulls this season, and came close to garnering his first career All-NBA Team selection.