WASHINGTON: Cleveland Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving and Golden State forward Harrison Barnes have agreed to play for the United States at the Rio Olympics, completing the American roster, ESPN reported Saturday.
Citing unidentified sources, the US-based sport’s network’s website said Irving, who helped the Cavaliers win their first NBA crown last weekend, and Barnes, whose Warriors were on the losing end in the finals, agreed to the Brazil trip Saturday.
Australian-born Irving, Most Valuable Player of the 2014 Basketball World Cup, averaged 19.6 points and 4.7 assists for Cleveland this season.
USA Basketball is expected to unveil a Team USA roster Monday that includes Irving, Klay Thompson, Jimmy Butler, Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan as guards, DeMarcus Cousins and DeAndre Jordan at center and Kevin Durant, Carmelo Anthony, Paul George, Draymond Green and Harrison Barnes as forward.
The US squad will be favored to win a third consecutive Olympic gold medal in Rio under coach Mike Krzyzewski, who will leave after the games following a decade in the job. Gregg Popovich of the San Antonio Spurs is set to replace him after Rio.
The Americans will stage a training camp in Las Vegas on July 18-21 then play five warm-up games ahead of the August 6 start of the men’s Olympic tournament.
NBA top draft Simmons’ cousin killed in NJ hit-and-run
Family members say the cousin of Ben Simmons, who was picked first by the Philadelphia 76ers in the NBA draft, has died after being struck by a car in a New Jersey neighborhood.
Twenty-one-year-old Zachary Simmons died after being struck early Saturday while crossing a street in Hoboken. Authorities say the sport utility vehicle that struck the Ramsey man fled the scene.
The victim’s mother, Monique Steele, told WCBS-TV (http://cbsloc.al/28WvJ3R) her son had gone with Simmons to the NBA draft earlier in the week. She said he was walking back from a friend’s birthday party when he was struck and killed.
Ben Simmons posted a photo Saturday night on Twitter showing him standing with his cousin. The caption read: “#ripZacharySimmons.”
Police were still searching for the fleeing vehicle Saturday night.
Citing unidentified sources, the US-based sport’s network’s website said Irving, who helped the Cavaliers win their first NBA crown last weekend, and Barnes, whose Warriors were on the losing end in the finals, agreed to the Brazil trip Saturday.
Australian-born Irving, Most Valuable Player of the 2014 Basketball World Cup, averaged 19.6 points and 4.7 assists for Cleveland this season.
USA Basketball is expected to unveil a Team USA roster Monday that includes Irving, Klay Thompson, Jimmy Butler, Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan as guards, DeMarcus Cousins and DeAndre Jordan at center and Kevin Durant, Carmelo Anthony, Paul George, Draymond Green and Harrison Barnes as forward.
The US squad will be favored to win a third consecutive Olympic gold medal in Rio under coach Mike Krzyzewski, who will leave after the games following a decade in the job. Gregg Popovich of the San Antonio Spurs is set to replace him after Rio.
The Americans will stage a training camp in Las Vegas on July 18-21 then play five warm-up games ahead of the August 6 start of the men’s Olympic tournament.
NBA top draft Simmons’ cousin killed in NJ hit-and-run
Family members say the cousin of Ben Simmons, who was picked first by the Philadelphia 76ers in the NBA draft, has died after being struck by a car in a New Jersey neighborhood.
Twenty-one-year-old Zachary Simmons died after being struck early Saturday while crossing a street in Hoboken. Authorities say the sport utility vehicle that struck the Ramsey man fled the scene.
The victim’s mother, Monique Steele, told WCBS-TV (http://cbsloc.al/28WvJ3R) her son had gone with Simmons to the NBA draft earlier in the week. She said he was walking back from a friend’s birthday party when he was struck and killed.
Ben Simmons posted a photo Saturday night on Twitter showing him standing with his cousin. The caption read: “#ripZacharySimmons.”
Police were still searching for the fleeing vehicle Saturday night.
