New Orleans Pelicans star Zion Williamson was placed on Team USA’s prospective rankings for the Tokyo Olympics on Thursday. One of the fifteen names has been added as the team prepares for uncertainty in the roster as it goes into an unprecedented summer.
The New York Knicks’ Julius Randle and Zach LaVine of the Chicago Bulls, both first-time All-Stars this season, like Williamson, were among those added to coach Gregg Popovich. There were already 42 players on the list, which has now swelled to 57 as USA Basketball tries to give itself options for the 12-man team.
There is a good chance that even more players could be considered when the training camp opens in early July. Team USA’s first game in Tokyo is scheduled for July 25, just three days after the latest possible end date for the NBA Finals.
Jerry Colangelo, managing director of Team USA, urged the U.S. Olympic Committee and FIBA, which manages the Olympics, to allow roster changes up to and perhaps even during the Olympics to accommodate players who could be involved in deep playoffs.
Schedules are usually set up a few weeks before the Olympics. No official decision has been made.
“It’s important that we remain flexible and consider all players who can contribute to our efforts to make the best American team possible,” Colangelo said. “Having a bigger pool of players than we normally have is critical because of all the uncertainties we have available.”
Among the names added to the list are the Duncan Robinson of the Miami Heat and Christian Wood of the Houston Rockets, both of whom have no history with the national team.
The other 55 players now in the rankings have played in the national team in the past or participated in training camps. Thursday is also the Trae Young of the Atlanta Hawks, Jarrett Allen of the Cleveland Cavaliers, Jerami Grant of the Detroit Pistons, Mitchell Robinson of the Knicks, Fred VanVleet of the Toronto Raptors, John Wall of the Rockets, and Eric Gordon, the Milwaukee Bucks’ Jrue Holiday and the Brooklyn Nets’ DeAndre Jordan and Blake Griffin.