Curry, Mitchell turn down opportunity to play in Tokyo Games

Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Stephen Curry, Donovan Mitchell turn down opportunity to play for Team USA at Olympics

By Erin Walsh | Last updated 6/21/21

While Team USA got Tokyo Olympics commitments from Bam Adebayo and James Harden on Monday, it also received two rejections.

According to The Athletic's Shams Charania and ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry and Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell turned down the opportunity to play for Team USA at this summer's Olympics.

Mitchell is using the time off this summer to recover from an ankle injury, Wojnarowski adds.

Warriors star Stephen Curry has opted against playing for Team USA in the Tokyo Olympics this summer, sources tell me and @anthonyVslater. Curry had been deciding on participating over the last few weeks, and USAB expected him to be out of the available pool.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 21, 2021

After getting an invitation to join Team USA for the Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell has declined the opportunity, sources tell ESPN. Instead, Mitchell will use the time to recover and rehab from his right ankle injury.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 21, 2021

The news of Curry and Mitchell's rejection comes as Team USA looks to finalize its roster before the end of the month.

Curry previously competed for Team USA at the 2010 and 2014 FIBA World Cups. He was also in consideration for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics but withdrew due to ankle and knee injuries.

Mitchell, meanwhile, was a member of the 2019 World Cup team that finished with a 6-2 record and in seventh place.

Team USA has received Tokyo commitments from Adebayo, Harden, Jayson Tatum, Draymond Green, Kevin Durant, Damian Lillard, Bradley Beal and Devin Booker. They will begin their pursuit of another gold medal on July 25 against France.

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