Any time NBA news breaks, it is always a race between Adrian Wojnarowski and Shams Charania. To that point, the Team USA men's basketball squad is taking shape by the hour as the Tokyo Olympics draw near. Reports have surfaced of players committing left and right, from Shams to Woj over and over again. Early Tuesday morning, Shams Charania of The Athletic reported that Phoenix Suns point guard Chris Paul had made a commitment to Team USA.
Chris Paul plans to commit to play for Team USA in the Olympics, per @ShamsCharania. pic.twitter.com/qZwPL6RQ4X
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) June 22, 2021
However, hours later, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN set the record straight regarding Paul's availability in the Olympics.
Phoenix Suns star Chris Paul has declined an invitation to play for Team USA in the Summer Olympics, league sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 22, 2021
Um, what? One says Paul is in, then Woj comes out with yet another Woj-Bomb and says Paul has declined to play for Team USA.
Very confusing, although Shams tweeted out a clarification message after Woj's report.
To clarify: USAB official says Paul has opted against Team USA this summer. Roster has been fluid at times throughout the week. https://t.co/cQ2hmVP0oO
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 22, 2021




So, a fluid situation indeed. Lost in all this was the commitment of Milwaukee Bucks point guard Jrue Holiday, who joins Khris Middleton on Team USA.
In hindsight, it never quite made sense for Paul to commit to the Olympics, considering his age and health, and the fact that a Suns Finals trip would push their season to mere hours before Team USA's first game at the Olympics.
First Paul is in, then he is out, and now Shams clarified his earlier report. Well, this is entertaining, to say the least, and Chris Paul is just worried about finding a way to make a return to the playoffs as he remains in health and safety protocols. The Suns are up 1-0 against the Los Angeles Clippers in the Western Conference Finals.
Still, this is another terrific saga of the ongoing Adrian Wojnarowski vs Shams Charania debate, and Woj got the better of Shams this time around.