Team USA to replace Bradley Beal amid COVID-19 protocols

It’s been a week of struggles for Team USA preparing for the upcoming Olympic Games, dropping games to both Nigeria and Australia.

Now with the tournament just weeks away, Team USA will be heading to Tokyo without a key contributor.

After starting in three exhibition games this week for Team USA, Washington Wizards All-Star guard Bradley Beal entered COVID-19 health and safety protocols, USA Basketball said.

On Thursday, USA Basketball confirmed that Beal will not be traveling to Tokyo with the team, which will have to replace him.

This would have been Beal’s first time representing Team USA in the Olympics. In three exhibition games, Beal’s best performance was in their most recent 108-80 win over Argentina on Tuesday, where he tied Kevin Durant with a team-high 17 points.

Beal, 28, was set to become the first active Wizards player to be represent Team USA in the Olympic Games.

Still working out their kinks, Team USA will miss Beal as a scoring threat. In the last two NBA seasons, he’s led the Eastern Conference in scoring and is fresh off his first All-NBA selection.

With their first Olympic game just 10 days away, Team USA faces a crucial decision ahead having an open roster spot.

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