This summer, the Olympics takes place in Rio, Brazil, and it’s been discussed ad nasueum in past weeks for a myriad of reasons. The most salient of those reasons has been the outbreak of the Zika virus, which has carried enough of a health risk to force major athletes from around the world to withdraw from competition, and it likely played a hand in the decision not to play for several NBA players. A good chunk of guys are on the injury mend, like Steph Curry, John Wall and Blake Griffin, but some withdrew for undicslosed reasons, like Russell Westbrook. It’s hard to believe Zika isn’t playing some sort of role in these decisions.
However, the show must go on, and it will, as USA Basketball officially announced their 12-man roster this morning, returning a now four-time Olympian in Carmelo Anthony and Team USA vet Kevin Durant to lead the way. 10 other stars will join them in the American ranks, including DeMarcus Cousins, Klay Thompson and Kyrie Irving, one of the last additions to the squad.
Check out the full lineup below.
Meet the 2016 #USABMNT: https://t.co/bazHY9lg1C#UNITE #RoadToRio (via @usabasketball) pic.twitter.com/Y6Uwem9trN
— NBA (@NBA) June 27, 2016