OKC Thunder: Is COVID going to derail US hopes at Olympics?

While the OKC Thunder continues to prepare for the NBA Draft there is plenty of action tied to basketball at home and internationally. At the top of the event list, is Game 6 between the Milwaukee Bucks and Phoenix Suns.

A Bucks win would mean Milwaukee will become the 2021 NBA champions and earn their second title in franchise history – – the first in fifty years (1971). Former OKC Thunder captain Chris Paul will be keen to play spoiler by grabbing victory for his squad in order to force a Game 7. Either way the Larry O’Brien trophy will be decided either this evening or at the latest on Thursday.

Three players participating in this finals won’t have time to celebrate victory or bemoan losing as they’ll immediately pack their bags and head to Toyko, Japan to join the Men’s USA basketball team. Jrue Holiday, Khris Middleton, and Devin Booker are that trio.

As Olympics approach Delta variant wreaks havoc on Team USA

And that triad is definitely needed due to players leaving both for personal and health issues. Kevin Love elected to depart citing not being fully healthy due to the calf injury that kept him off the court for 47 games this season.

The more concerning issue is the continuing presence of COVID and in particular the Delta variant. Three players from the squad have already been affected with Bradley Beal forced to withdraw from participating.

Former OKC Thunder forward Jerami Grant was quarantined for four days due to contract tracing but was able to travel with the team and will participate. One player who couldn’t fly with the team was Zach LaVine who was placed in health and safety protocols. Team USA is hopeful he’ll be able to take a later flight and join the squad. Perhaps they’ll have LaVine travel with Booker, Holiday and Middleton.

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All this commotion meant only eight players flew to Tokyo with Keldon Johnson and JaVale McGee replacing Beal and Love.

While Gregg Popovich must be pulling out those long locks over all these last-minute roster changes his issues aren’t isolated to the quartet yet to join them in Japan.

Rather, he’ll have to also deal with the situation in the Olympic village as other US athletes who traveled to Japan have tested positive after arrival seemingly indicating they are contracting COVID from people on site. Gymnast Kara Eaker who was fully vaccinated tested positive and is quarantine but forced to withdraw.

Two female athletes have tested positive including tennis star Cori “Coco” Gauff.  Katie Lou Samuelson was set to play in the new 3×3 basketball event also tested positive. It’s forcing both to withdraw from participating. Samuelson will be replaced by Jackie Young.

These positive tests are making for anxious times as athletes have to worry about the virus even if they are vaccinated.  Fueling safety concerns is the fact Japan has only vaccinated 20 percent of its population. Volunteers get tested but it’s not a full-proof system especially because tests don’t always provide immediate confirmation the virus has been contracted.

The Olympics are slated to start this Friday (July 23rd) with the opening ceremonies and the US men’s team will play their first basketball game on Sunday, July 25th versus Team France.