Tatum, Team USA to play five exhibitions in July before heading to Tokyo Olympics
Boston Celtics All-Star wing Jayson Tatum and the rest of Team USA are gearing up to play in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics being played in Japan a year later than anticipated because of the pandemic and will play a series of five exhibition games before they depart to compete for a gold medal.
Tatum will join a star-studded roster including Kevin Durant, Damian Lillard, Bradley Beal, and Devin Booker among others, and be coached by San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich. Team USA will also be joined by new Celtics head coach and Popovich disciple Ime Udoka, who will join the staff as an assistant.
That the Celtic star and his new coach will be facing Nigeria in the exhibition tilts — Udoka’s FIBA squad in his playing days — will make for an especially interesting wrinkle.
Mannix: ‘If the Celtics made an offer to Sam Presti he would have taken it’ https://t.co/aKJbj1ErLx
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) July 4, 2021
The games will be broadcast by NBC Sports, and take place between July 10 and 18. Let's take a look at when the teams will meet for the friendlies set to be played in Las Vegas, where Team USA will train before it travels to Japan. https://twitter.com/TheCelticsWire/status/1411735046344544261?s=20
July 10 - Team USA vs. Nigeria - 8 p.m. ET
AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez
July 12 - Team USA vs. Nigeria - 8 p.m. ET
Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
July 13 - Team USA vs. Nigeria - 6 p.m. ET
Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
July 16 - Team USA vs. Nigeria - 6 p.m. ET
Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
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July 18 - Team USA vs. Nigeria - 9 p.m. ET
Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
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