CLEVELAND — Editor's note: the Locked On Cavs podcast video in the player above is from June 30, 2021.
When the USA men's basketball team begins its preparations for the Tokyo Olympics next, Kevin Love won't be the only Cleveland Cavaliers player on the practice courts. On Thursday, USA Basketball announced that Cavs point guard Darius Garland is one of 17 players to have been named to its select roster, which will join Team USA's 12-man roster for a training camp in Las Vegas July 6-9.
Selected with the No. 5 pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, Garland is coming off a strong second season in Cleveland. Appearing in 54 of the Cavs' 72 games, the 6-foot-1, 192-pound point guard averaged 17.4 points on .451 shooting (.395 from 3-point range) and a team-high 6.1 assists -- all of which were statistical improvements from what was largely considered to be a disappointing rookie season.
As a member of the USA Basketball select roster, Garland will have the opportunity to train with some of the country's top players, including fellow guards Bradley Beal, Jrue Holiday, Zach LaVine and Damian Lillard, who will each represent the United States in its quest to win a fourth consecutive gold medal in men's basketball. He'll also reunite with Love, who was selected to his second Olympics team earlier this week after previously serving as Team USA's leading rebounder in the 2012 Olympic Games.
USA Basketball's full select roster is as follows:
- Saddiq Bey, F, Detroit Pistons
- Miles Bridges, F, Charlotte Hornets
- Anthony Edwards, G, Minnesota Timberwolves
- Darius Garland, G, Cleveland Cavaliers
- Tyrese Haliburton, G, Sacramento Kings
- Tyler Herro, G, Miami Heat
- John Jenkins, G, Bilbao Basket (Italy)
- Keldon Johnson, G, San Antonio Spurs,
- Josh Magette, G, Darüşşafaka Tekfen (Turkey)
- Dakota Mathias, G, Philadelphia 76ers
- Immanuel Quickly, G, New York Knicks
- Naz Reid, C, Minnesota Timberwolves
- Cam Reynolds, F, Houston Rockets
- Isaiah Stewart, F/C, Detroit Pistons
- Obi Toppin, F, New York Knicks
- P.J. Washington, F, Charlotte Hornets
- Patrick Williams, F, Chicago Bulls