Trending News|July 28, 2015 10:28 EDT
NBA 2015 News: Injured Stars to Join Team USA Minicamp for Olympics
Team USA is set to hold a minicamp on Aug. 11-13, which nearly 40 players are reportedly planning to attend. Taking place in Las Vegas, the minicamp is being described by USA Basketball managing director Jerry Colangelo as "mandatory" for players who wish to be part of the 12-man roster that will be competing in the Olympics next year.
As SB Nation notes, included in the list of players that have expressed their intentions to join the camp are those still recovering from injuries, with Carmelo Anthony, Chandler Parsons, Kevin Love, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant among those expected to fly in to Las Vegas despite still nursing injuries.
Anthony has not yet returned to basketball activities after undergoing surgery to repair a torn patella tendon in his left knee, but the New York Knicks have reportedly given his involvement in the minicamp a go signal.
As reported by ESPN's Marc Stein, Love, who is still recovering from a left shoulder injury, will also be in Las Vegas, along with teammate Irving, who underwent knee surgery back in June.
Durant, who skipped the World Cup last year, and dealt with foot issues the entire year, will reportedly be attendance as well, according to USA Today; while Paul George, who suffered a horrific leg injury during a Team USA scrimmage last summer, is expected to be at the minicamp as well.
As noted by SB Nation, others planning to join Team USA next week are Blake Griffin, James Harden, Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, Harrison Barnes, Andre Drummond, Mason Plumlee, Bradley Beal, Gordon Hayward, Mike Conley, Michael Crater-Williams, Tobias Harris and Victor Oladipo.
Joining that list is reigning Defensive Player of the Year Kawhi Leonard, who despite declining invites from USA Basketball the past two summers, has said he plans to attend this year.