The stars of the ongoing NBA Finals spoke a day after Curry, the two-time reigning NBA Most Valuable Player, announced he will not play for the defending champion U.S. squad in Rio, citing injuries and fatigue after back-to-back finals runs. The Bay Area News Group’s Marcus Thompson reported that, while Curry was “concerned about Zika”, the decision was about resting his knee. “But it would be an honor to play for Team USA and I’d love to go to Brazil”.
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Curry is no stranger to representing the country in an worldwide sporting event.
“I hope to play for Team USA”, Thompson said. USA Basketball announced a 30-strong list of candidates for the Olympic team in January, although point guards Chris Paul and John Wall have removed themselves for consideration.
Stephen Curry has withdrawn from consideration for the US basketball team for the Olympic Games in Rio to allow a knee injury time to heal, the league MVP announced on Monday.
“We’re in a hell of a series right now, so I haven’t really thought about it, but I did see Steph pull his name out, which you just respect a guy like that”. The news agency revealed that one Sao Paulo-based research group predicted that the Rio Olympics would result in no more than 15 Zika infections among the foreign visitors expected to attend the event.
Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving, who is a finalist for the team, also said he would wait until after the Finals to decide if he would like to play.
Curry, 28, will probably still be in contention for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.
USA cyclist Tejay van Garderen has already cited Zika concerns as his reasons for dropping out from Olympic consideration, and the World Health Organization is putting together an emergency committee to study the virus and examine risks of the games behind held in Brazil.
“I’m not gonna lie to you, mosquitoes love me, I grew up in OR [and] I felt like I was always getting bit”, Thompson said. I’m reading into those and might have to buy a HazMat outfit to arrive. For now, his focus is on finishing the 2016 National Basketball Association finals as well as preparing his mind and body for next season in the league. That’s Steph’s decision. As his coach I’m pleased. “And I think that’s the wise choice”. It’s up to each individual player if he wants the experience or not, and that’s a tough choice because being in the Olympics is a great honor.
“The best thing about Team USA, no one’s logging heavy minutes”.
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Thompson acknowledged Zika worries him somewhat – “mosquitoes love me”, he quipped – but not enough to deter him from wanting to play. So it’s no joking matter, but it’s a little concerning.
