A week has not even gone by since the 2021 NBA Finals had concluded with the Milwaukee Bucks winning the Larry O’Brien trophy in six games against the Phoenix Suns, but three key figures of that series — Khris Middleton, Jrue Holiday, and Devin Booker — will have more basketball to play, as they will be joining Draymond Green and the rest of Team USA in Japan for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.

For Draymond Green, the fact that Middleton, Holiday, and Booker are all committed to playing for the flag surely deserves his respect, per Brian Windhorst of ESPN

“I have a lot of respect for those guys for not only committing to do this but actually keeping their word,” Team USA forward Draymond Green said. “You're talking about three true professionals, three extremely competitive guys that wouldn't be on their way here if this didn't mean something.”

It’s perhaps easier for Middleton and Holiday to pack their bags for Japan. After all, they’re going there still feeling high about their successful championship run in the NBA. It’s a different story for Booker, who will be flying across the Pacific with the lingering thought of how the Suns let the NBA title slip out of their hands despite winning the first two games of the series.

It will take time for Booker to move on completely from that, but winning the gold in Japan should go a long way in helping him recover from that bitter series. As for Middleton and Holiday, helping Team USA get on top of the podium would add another reason why 2021 will be a year they’ll never forget.