Houston (USA), June 22 (EFE). – Phoenix Suns veteran base Chris Paul, who was the main factor for his team to run into the Western Conference Finals, told Team USA Basketball that he will be in Tokyo 2020.
Paul, who had to be in quarantine after he tested positive for covid-19 and is considered one of the best players in the NBA in his position as a guard, has officially declined the invitation to participate in the Tokyo 2020 Summer Games, according to several people. Sources close to the American Basketball Association.
Paul missed Game One of the Western Conference Finals and will not play tomorrow, Wednesday, the second, after entering NBA Covid-19 health and safety protocols. His return to competition remains unspecified.
The decision by Paul, the top basketball body for the US national teams, came as no surprise, after seeing the triumphant run of the Suns in the playoffs.
The Suns play in the Western Conference Finals against the Clippers, where they have a 1-0 advantage best of seven, and if they reach the NBA Finals, they won’t allow Paul to have a minimum rest.
If the Suns reach the finals and have to play a seventh game, it won’t be until next July 22 and the first Olympic game for the United States will be scheduled three days later, against France.
Paul, 36, already has Olympic experience with the US team by attending the Summer Games in Beijing 2008 and London 2012, in both games with gold medals under his belt.
However, at the 2016 Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro, the Suns also declined the invitation to be with the national team, thus reconfirming the title of Olympic champion.
