Top Ad
I DIG Radio
www.idigradio.com
Listen live to the best music from around the world!
I DIG Style
www.idigstyle.com
Learn about the latest fashion styles and more...

Bucks' Middleton, Holiday: Tokyo not distraction

Written by 
Published in Basketball
Saturday, 26 June 2021 10:46

Khris Middleton ordinarily wouldn't be thinking about anything right now other than what the Milwaukee Bucks are trying to accomplish in the NBA playoffs.

An invitation to play in the Olympics, that's not ordinary.

Milwaukee starting guards Middleton and Jrue Holiday plan to play for the U.S. in the Tokyo Olympics next month, yet both insist that isn't distracting them from the Bucks' quest to win the franchise's first NBA title in 50 years.

"We're in the middle of a championship run," Middleton said. "To take a second to think about something outside of this season, it was a little tough to think about it. But it was an easy decision for me to go ahead and commit."

Middleton, Holiday and Phoenix's Devin Booker are the three members of the team, as it is currently constructed, to still be participating in the NBA playoffs. The Bucks are in the Eastern Conference finals against the Atlanta Hawks; the Suns are facing the LA Clippers in the Western Conference finals.

The rest of the Olympic team: Boston's Jayson Tatum, Miami's Bam Adebayo, Brooklyn's Kevin Durant, Chicago's Zach LaVine, Cleveland's Kevin Love, Portland's Damian Lillard, Detroit's Jerami Grant, Washington's Bradley Beal and Golden State's Draymond Green. Those nine players will start practice July 6 in Las Vegas.

Middleton, Holiday and Booker are planning to join the team once their NBA seasons end. USA Basketball will get them to Tokyo separate from the rest of the Olympic team if necessary. The U.S team is planning to arrive in Tokyo around July 21, two days before the opening ceremony. Game 7 of the NBA Finals, if necessary, would be July 22, and the first U.S. men's game at the Olympics is July 25.

"I think I'm always focused on the immediate, what's happening right now. That's been my main focus, and it's going to continue to be that," Holiday said. "If we go the Finals or whatever happens, up until that point, this is what matters."

Holiday has experienced the Olympics before -- as a fan. His wife, Lauren Holiday, won Olympic golds as part of the U.S. women's soccer team in 2008 and 2012, and now he is hoping to add to the family medal collection.

"I thought it would be cool to experience it from actually playing," Jrue Holiday said.

Middleton said it was "a little bit challenging" to make the Olympic decision during the playoff run but that he was able to refocus quickly once he made the commitment to USA Basketball. Holiday also said it wasn't an overly difficult choice.

"I don't think I had to move my focus," Holiday said. "I think it's an honor to play for your country, especially an opportunity like this to be able to go out there and have 'USA' on your chest."

Read 249 times

Soccer

Ronaldo, 39, wants to to defy age, continue career

Ronaldo, 39, wants to to defy age, continue career

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsCristiano Ronaldo has said he has no plans of slowing down at the a...

Source: Tuchel open to stay, wary of Man Utd snub

Source: Tuchel open to stay, wary of Man Utd snub

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsThomas Tuchel is open to remaining as Bayern Munich coach amid conc...

Ederson ruled out for title decider, FA Cup final

Ederson ruled out for title decider, FA Cup final

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsEderson will miss Manchester City's last Premier League game as wel...

2026 FIFA


2028 LOS ANGELES OLYMPIC

UEFA

2024 PARIS OLYMPIC


Basketball

Bickerstaff future a question for Cavs; Mitchell, too

Bickerstaff future a question for Cavs; Mitchell, too

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsBOSTON -- After Cleveland saw its season end in a 113-98 loss to th...

Luka keeps peace with refs, dominates pivotal G5

Luka keeps peace with refs, dominates pivotal G5

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsOKLAHOMA CITY -- Dallas Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic, quite inte...

Baseball

MLB Power Rankings: The AL and NL Central are rising -- which teams are in our top 10?

MLB Power Rankings: The AL and NL Central are rising -- which teams are in our top 10?

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsWhile some of the usual players dominate our list, five of our top...

Scherzer to 60-day IL; can't return until May 28

Scherzer to 60-day IL; can't return until May 28

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsARLINGTON, Texas -- Max Scherzer was transferred to the 60-day inju...

Sports Leagues

  • FIFA

    Fédération Internationale de Football Association
  • NBA

    National Basketball Association
  • ATP

    Association of Tennis Professionals
  • MLB

    Major League Baseball
  • ITTF

    International Table Tennis Federation
  • NFL

    Nactional Football Leagues
  • FISB

    Federation Internationale de Speedball

About Us

I Dig® is a leading global brand that makes it more enjoyable to surf the internet, conduct transactions and access, share, and create information.  Today I Dig® attracts millions of users every month.r

 

Phone: (800) 737. 6040
Fax: (800) 825 5558
Website: www.idig.com
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Affiliated