- Jayson Tatum has reportedly committed to play for the US Men’s Basketball Olympic Team.
- He joins Damian Lillard and Draymond Green on the roster so far.
- The commitment of Tatum brings Bradley Beal into the spotlight as a potential member, as the two are well acquainted going back to high school.
LAS VEGAS - Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum will play for the United States Men’s Basketball team in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.
The United States tends to be a prohibitive favorite when it comes to Olympic basketball betting, but the injuries in the current NBA season have left the team composition in doubt.
Players like LeBron James and Anthony Davis are seen as unlikely to play, given their need to recover in the offseason. This leaves spots that need to be filled on the roster, which is starting to take shape after Tatum’s selection.
Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum has committed to playing for USA Basketball at this summer’s Tokyo Olympics, league sources tell @YahooSports. https://t.co/Z2md4bqd8z
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) June 15, 2021
The United States’ odds to win the gold medal in Men’s basketball have not changed much since the announcement.
It seems as though players of Tatum’s caliber are the expected members of the US Men’s Basketball team, and him being on the team is par for the course as far as the online sportsbooks are concerned.
Tokyo 2021 - Men's Basketball
- USA -300
- Serbia +800
- Spain +800
- France +1700
- Australia +2500
- Greece +2500
- Lithuania +2500
- Argentina +3000
- Croatia +5000
- Slovenia +5000
- Turkey +5000
- Venezuela +5000
Tatum’s selection also brings speculation about Bradley Beal playing on the Olympic team to a fever pitch.
Tatum and Beal are old friends from St. Louis, and they were seen as something of a package deal as far as Olympic play goes.
The US Men’s Basketball team could be shaping up nicely with Tatum, Beal, Damian Lillard and Draymond Green.
Beal has yet to commit, while Lillard and Green are committed to the team along with Tatum.
The US Men’s Basketball Olympic Team will be coached by Gregg Popovich, head coach of the San Antonio Spurs.
While all of the stars in the NBA will not be brought to bear, there should be enough star power on the roster to make the United States significant favorites for the gold medal.