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Update: Multiple reports on Wednesday confirmed that Harden withdrew from the team to focus on recovering from a hamstring injury that plagued him for most of this past season.
According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, former Arizona State guard James Harden has committed to play for Team USA at the Tokyo Olympics this summer. Harden was part of the 2012 Gold Medal team.
Nets star James Harden has committed to play for Team USA in the Tokyo Olympics, joining teammate Kevin Durant on the USAB squad, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. Kyrie Irving is unlikely to play as he recovers from his ankle injury.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 21, 2021
Harden and his current team, the Brooklyn Nets, were recently eliminated from the NBA Playoffs this past week. Harden and his teammate Kevin Durant are two of the eight players this far that have made a pledge to represent the stars and stripes.
The group stage of the Olympic basketball tournament will run from July 25 to Aug. 1, and the knockout stage will run from Aug. 3-7. Team USA will be seeking its fourth consecutive gold medal.
Harden completed his 12th season in the NBA. He was traded midseason from the Houston Rockets to the Nets. In 35 games with Brooklyn, Harden averaged 24.6 points, 10.9 assists and 8.5 rebounds per game. The Nets will be one of the favorites to win the NBA title in 2021-22 season, but The Beard looks to get another gold medal.