Five Boston Celtics, including Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, among 44 finalists for Team USA’s 2020 Olympic team

https://www.masslive.com/celtics/2020/02/five-boston-celtics-including-jayson-tatum-and-jaylen-brown-among-44-finalists-for-team-usas-2020-olympic-team.html




Five Boston Celtics, including Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, among 44 finalists for Team USA’s 2020 Olympic team



Updated 1:00 PM; Today 12:59 PM





Boston Celtics' Jaylen Brown (7) on the court with teammates Jayson Tatum (0), Marcus Smart (36) and Daniel Theis (27) during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Toronto Raptors in Boston, Friday, Oct. 25, 2019. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)AP



By Tom Westerholm | twesterh@masslive.com




Team USA released their 44 finalists for the 2020 Olympic Team in Tokyo on Monday, which includes five members of the Boston Celtics.

The five Celtics are predictable: Kemba Walker, Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Gordon Hayward and Marcus Smart.

Tatum, Walker, Brown and Smart all played for Team USA’s FIBA World Cup squad this summer, which put together a disappointing seventh-place finish. The Celtics contingent, however, seemed to be well-liked by everyone involved, including head coach Gregg Popovich who lauded Smart’s tenacity and reportedly told Jayson Tatum he could be like Paul George or Kawhi Leonard.


The Los Angeles Lakers are the only other team with five representatives: Anthony Davis, LeBron James, Dwight Howard, JaVale McGee and Kyle Kuzma. Kevin Durant, Joe Harris and Kyrie Irving represent the Brooklyn Nets, while Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green are on the initial list from the Golden State Warriors.

Competition to play for the actual Team USA squad will be stiff: The 12-man final roster will be announced later this year. Whether the Celtics can actually get a player or two on the Olympic team remains to be seen, but this year’s squad certainly seems to have benefitted from the experience of international play.


bob


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I think Tatum will end up locking down a spot. My guess is Walker is a possibility as the C's next best shot.