Is Paul George joining the Team USA basketball team for the Rio Olympics in 2016?
Paul George of the Indiana Pacers missed most of the last NBA season because of a gruesome freak accident sustained in an exhibition game for Team USA. Despite that traumatic experience, he gallantly returned for the minicamp, declaring his intentions to join the team that will represent the United States in the Rio Olympics.
While George showed up, he was promptly excused from physical activities, as ESPN reported:
"But sources say George -- who was always expected by USAB officials to sit out this week's two light workouts as well as Thursday night's intrasquad scrimmage -- was spared the chore of being forced to watch Tuesday's noncontact session from the sideline and then face the media hordes in attendance."
George wants a slot in the roster and it seems understandable to excuse him because he is still recovering from an injury. But is it also because he is already guaranteed a roster slot? A statement given by USA Basketball director Jerry Colangelo last year gives that implication.
"We've told him we have a spot for him in '16," Colangelo told NBA.com. Without seeing how he'll come back? "Right, That's what we told him."
He elaborated: "We thought it's the right thing to do. That's it.... We didn't give thought to all the detail. Just that when a guy goes down and all these things, the circumstances, his career passes before him, he's out for a year, a year-plus, he's not able to participate now with us - we wanted to throw that out and say, 'We're counting on you. You've got a spot in '16.' "
Perhaps all George needed to do was signify his intention, which he did. There is the underlying condition that he needed to be in playing shape, and we will see that next season.
The 2016 Rio Olympics promises to be one of the most competitive for Team USA with most of the big names like LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Carmelo Anthony and Kobe Bryant intending to join. If Colangelo pulls through on his promise, George can be considered fortunate.