We are now just one day away from the start of the 2020 Summer Olympics Games in Tokyo, Japan, for the United States men’s basketball team and star Chicago Bulls shooting guard Zach LaVine. The Bulls’ first-time All-Star guard LaVine had some uncertainty surrounding his status for the opener in Olympic pool play for Team USA earlier this week.
LaVine went through the health and safety protocol with USA Basketball due to either a delayed or false positive/negative COVID-19 test earlier in the week. But LaVine would wind up getting to fly out to Tokyo after the initial trip that the team took to be able to get ready for the first meeting of Olympic pool play.
Most accounts show that LaVine will be ready to go for the United States in this pool play showdown on July 25 against France. This will be the first of three games in pool play for Team USA. The other two teams that are in the same group as the United States in pool play are the Czech Republic and Iran.
France has a pretty talented squad, and LaVine will get to face his teammate and fellow Bulls guard Tomas Satoransky when the United States faces the Czech Republic next week.
Chicago Bulls star Zach LaVine “soaked up the moment” during the Opening Ceremonies in Tokyo
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.
— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) July 24, 2021
Also called landing in health and safety protocol "shocking."
But the initial experience that LaVine said he had in Tokyo for the Opening Ceremonies on July 23 sounded special. He stated (per K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago on Twitter on July 24) that “experiencing his first Olympic opening ceremony was powerful and that he tried to soak up the history of the moment”.
LaVine clearly appears to be taking in this unique experience of the Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo starting this week. Hopefully, LaVine will get to add to the memorable experience with a Gold Medal with the USA men’s basketball team.
After having a solid run with the United States to round out an otherwise rocky set of pre-Olympic exhibition games, the brief stint in quarantine was a bit of a setback for LaVine. But now he looks like he’s ready to contribute to some winning efforts for Team USA in Tokyo.
LaVine could challenge for a spot in the starting unit when the United States faces France on July 25. But he could be facing an uphill battle in that regard, especially with the Phoenix Suns’ star guard Devin Booker and reigning NBA Champion/Milwaukee Bucks point guard Jrue Holiday joining the team this week.
Team USA and France are set to tip-off on July 25 at 7 a.m. CT.