Reports: Chris Paul, Kevin Love, Khris Middleton added to Team USA
Chris Paul, Kevin Love and Khris Middleton will play for Team USA in the Olympic Games in Tokyo, according to media reports Tuesday.
The Athletic reported Paul will join the team, with ESPN confirming the addition of Love and Middleton.
While USA Basketball has not confirmed the team, media reports indicate 11 players now are committed to the 12-team roster: Paul (Phoenix Suns), Love (Cleveland Cavaliers), Middleton (Milwaukee Bucks), Kevin Durant and James Harden (Brooklyn Nets), Devin Booker (Suns), Bam Adebayo (Miami Heat), Draymond Green (Golden State Warriors), Bradley Beal (Washington Wizards), Jayson Tatum (Boston Celtics) and Damian Lillard (Portland Trail Blazers).
Paul guided the Phoenix Suns to the Western Conference finals but is currently sidelined in COVID-19 protocol. Phoenix hosts Game 2 of the best-of-seven series with the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday.
Paul, 36, is a two-time Olympian, winning gold medals with Team USA in 2008 and 2012.
Paul averaged 16.4 points, 8.9 assists and 4.5 rebounds per game with the Suns in the regular season, helping Phoenix reach the conference finals for the first time since 2010.
Injuries limited Love to 25 games and a career low of 24.9 minutes per game this season. He averaged 12.2 points and 7.4 rebounds for Cleveland, well below his career averages of 18.0 points and 11.0 rebounds.
Middleton's Bucks open the Western Conference Final on Wednesday against the Atlanta Hawks. In 68 regular-season games, he averaged 20.4 points, 6.0 rebounds and 5.4 assists per game. In 11 playoff games, he is averaging 23.3 points, 8.0 rebounds and 4.3 assists.
Love played for Team USA in London in 2012. Middleton has never played on an Olympic team.
--Field Level Media
