Kevin Love withdraws from Team USA, won't go to Tokyo

Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love warms up before a game against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center. Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports

Cavaliers' Kevin Love withdrawing from Team USA, won't travel to Tokyo Olympics

By Erin Walsh | Last updated 7/16/21

Team USA head coach Gregg Popovich admitted earlier this month that he was going to demand a lot out of Cleveland Cavaliers star Kevin Love at this summer's Tokyo Olympics.

That demand could have contributed to Love's decision to withdraw from Team USA and not participate in the Olympics. The 32-year-old is still returning to form after suffering a right calf injury that sidelined him for much of the 2020-21 NBA season.

Love's agent, Jeff Schwartz, provided a statement from the Cavs veteran to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski on Friday. The five-time All-Star says he is "incredibly disappointed" that he cannot compete in Tokyo.

Agent Jeff Schwartz of @excelbasketball has confirmed news to ESPN and shared statement from Love: "I am incredibly disappointed to not be heading to Tokyo with Team USA, but you need to be at absolute peak performance to compete at the Olympic level and I am just not there yet." https://t.co/Ph6DfKZOIf
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 16, 2021

Love has not played for Team USA since the 2012 London Olympics. At 32 years old, he might never get the opportunity to suit up for the Red, White and Blue again.

Love joins Bradley Beal in withdrawing from the U.S. men's basketball team. Beal was forced to withdraw earlier this week due to health and safety protocols.

Potential replacements for Beal include Philadelphia 76ers star Tobias Harris and Houston Rockets forward Christian Wood. It's unclear if either of those players will be considered for the vacant position left by Love.

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