Heat’s Jimmy Butler turns down spot on US team for Tokyo Olympics
Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler has opted to bypass an invitation from USA Basketball to participate in this summer’s Tokyo Olympics, the South Florida Sun Sentinel has learned.
The decision was required with the next round of pre-Olympic testing commencing.
For Butler, 31, participation would have meant a month with the national team, starting July 6 in Las Vegas, before heading overseas for the Olympic competition that runs through Aug 7. NBA training camps then are scheduled to open Sept. 28.
It nonetheless figures to be an eventful summer for Butler, who is eligible this offseason for a four-year, $181 million extension, a negotiating window that would have coincided with the Olympics.
While the Heat’s first-round playoff elimination at the hands of the Milwaukee Bucks had allowed Butler to somewhat recharge, the Olympic schedule nonetheless would have continued what has been a whirlwind since he signed with the Heat in the 2019 offseason.
Since then, Butler played in the Heat’s run to the 2020 NBA Finals that did not end until October, returned for the start of training camp less than two months later, dealt with a debilitating case of COVID-19 that sidelined him for 10 games, and then led the Heat’s push to a No. 6 seed in the Eastern Conference. The Heat’s season ended May 29.
Butler this week was named second-team NBA All-Defensive and third-team All-NBA, solidifying his case for inclusion on the Olympic team.
It would have been the second consecutive Olympic appearance for Butler, who helped Team USA win gold in Brazil in 2016 while a member of the Chicago Bulls. Butler appeared in all eight games of Team USA’s 8-0 run in Rio de Janeiro, averaging 5.6 points and 2.5 rebounds, shooting just .342 from the field and .222 on 3-pointers, but compensating with 17-of-18 accuracy from the foul line.
Butler was one of four Heat players in the 57-player pool for Olympic consideration, with Bam Adebayo, Duncan Robinson and Victor Oladipo also listed. A second round of invitations is expected to begin.
Adebayo was a finalist for the Team USA World Cup entry in 2019, before being cut during that camp by San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich. Oladipo is sidelined following quadriceps surgery. Robinson is an impending free agent, making USA Basketball participation unlikely.
Compounding the selection process is an NBA schedule delayed by the pandemic, one that has the Finals running through late July. Because of that timing, as well as the timing for when binding 12-player Olympic rosters must be submitted, players participating in the NBA conference finals may have to be bypassed by the selection committee, with Team USA already scheduled for pre-Olympic exhibitions during that timeframe.
With Popovich serving as head coach, Team USA will be assisted by Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr, former Atlanta Hawks coach Lloyd Pierce and Villanova coach Jay Wright.
The Tokyo Olympics were postponed from last summer due to the coronavirus pandemic. COVID-19 testing, similar to what NBA players experienced this past season, is expected to be part of the Olympic process.
The United States has won the past four Olympic competitions and will enter ranked No. 1 by FIBA, the sport’s international governing body.
Since NBA players began representing the United States in 1992, Team USA is 53-3 in seven Olympics, capturing six gold medals and one bronze.
In addition to the United States, Argentina, Australia, France, Iran, Nigeria, Spain and host Japan have already qualified for the Olympic competition. Four additional teams will join the pool through last-chance qualification tournaments.
For the first round, Team USA was drawn into Group A alongside 2019 FIBA World Cup bronze medalist France, 2017 Asia Cup runner-up Iran and the to-be-determined winner of the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Victoria, Canada.
While Slovenia is among the teams participating in the qualifying tournaments, Heat guard Goran Dragic has retired from that country’s national team.
