As roster spots became open on Team USA for the Tokyo Olympics multiple name were brought up as potential replacements. One that some fans clamored for was Trae Young of the Atlanta Hawks.
Young and the Hawks had just finished an incredible season that led to an unpredictable run all the way to the Eastern Conference Finals. They took out the Knicks and 76ers along the way before ultimately falling to the eventual NBA champions, the Milwaukee Bucks.
According to Team USA CEO Jerry Colangelo, Young was considered for Team USA. Via The Athletic, Colangelo got real blunt as to why the Hawks' star wasn't picked.
“I’m happy that he wants to play for USA Basketball. We had him in one of our camps. We know him in USA Basketball. He’s done really well in the NBA. But predicated on what we felt we needed, he didn’t fit the bill this time around. He’s a young player, he has a future with USA Basketball but it was the opinion of our staff that it wasn’t now. It’s for others to make the declaration ‘you made a mistake.”
While Colangelo did not the Hawks' floor general has a future with USA basketball, those in charge just felt as though it wasn't the right choice this time around. It would be interesting to know why Young “didn't fit the bill this time,” but perhaps that's a conversation for a different day with Colangelo.
Team USA is loaded as always while being led by Damian Lillard and Kevin Durant. There's superstar power all around with Jayson Tatum, Devin Booker, Khris Middleton and plenty more. The men's team sputtered in a couple exhibition games and even lost their first match in the Olympics but they seem to be figuring it out after a blowout win over Iran. Who knows, maybe the Hawks will be represented in the next games by their guard, Trae Young.
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