Bradley Beal will miss the Olympics after being placed into health and safety protocols and the U.S. men’s basketball team said it will replace him on its roster at a later date.
The Americans also announced Thursday that forward Jerami Grant has also been played in health and safety protocols “out of an abundance of caution.”
Beal had started all three exhibition games for the U.S. so far in Las Vegas, averaging 10.3 points on 10-for-21 shooting.
The Washington Wizards guard was second in the NBA this season with 31.3 points per game. Coach Gregg Popovich said it was devastating news for Beal and his family.
“I’m dying for him,” Popovich said. “We all are.”
The Americans have already been playing short-handed during their exhibition games, with Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday of Milwaukee and Devin Booker of Phoenix playing in the NBA Finals.
Popovich said the challenge for the Americans will be finding a player who is in good shape, after the NBA regular season ended in May.
He said they are going through names who are available and trying to see who would be a fit.
The Americans are scheduled to play two more games in Las Vegas before heading to Tokyo, with their opening game against France set for July 25.
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