clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Kevin Love commits to Team USA for the Tokyo Olympics

The United States fortifies its frontcourt with the addition of a familiar face.

Olympics Day 16 - Basketball Photo by Chris Elise/NBAE via Getty Images

Cleveland Cavaliers power forward Kevin Love has committed to play for Team USA at the Tokyo Olympics this Summer, per a report from ESPN Senior NBA Insider Adrian Wojnarowski.

Love now joins Draymond Green, Damian Lillard, Devin Booker, Jayson Tatum, Bradley Beal, Kevin Durant, Bam Adebayo, James Harden, and Khris Middleton for the rescheduled 2020 Summer Olympics.

The five-time All-Star was among the initial 42 finalists announced for Team USA’s 12-man roster in February. This addition presumably leaves two vacant spots for head coach Gregg Popovich to fill.

The 32-year-old previously represented the United States 2012 London Olympic Games and the 2010 FIBA World Championship in Turkey, where he helped USA Basketball secure a pair of gold medals.

Despite being a longtime fixture with the Cavaliers and winning an NBA championship with them in 2016, Love has struggled to keep Cleveland out of the lottery while battling numerous nagging injuries.

The two-time All-NBA forward suited up for just 25 contests this season, averaging career-lows in minutes and rebounds per game and posting the worst Player Efficiency Rating of his career.

Assuming Love is fully healthy by the time the United States travels to Tokyo next month, the veteran big man could provide a much-needed boost as a floor-spacing glass cleaner.

Team USA will begin training camp in Las Vegas on July 6 before heading to Tokyo for the 2020 Olympics. The group stages will run from July 25 to August 1, followed by the knockout rounds from August 3 to August 7.

USA Basketball has gone an unblemished 24-0 and won three consecutive gold medals at the 2008 Beijing, 2012 London, and 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics.