US basketball to hold pre-Olympic camp in Las Vegas
In this file photo taken on August 5, 2019, a USA Basketball logo is displayed at a practice session at the 2019 USA Basketball Men’s National Team World Cup minicamp at the Mendenhall Center at UNLV in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / AFP)
The United States’ men’s and women’s basketball teams will hold training camps and play a series of friendlies in Las Vegas next month as part of their final preparations for the Tokyo Olympics, USA Basketball said Thursday.
The men’s team, which will be chasing a fourth consecutive gold medal in Tokyo, will open its training camp on July 6 and play a five-game exhibition series before heading to Japan.
Gregg Popovich’s squad will face Nigeria on July 10, followed by Australia two days later before meeting Argentina on July 13.
A further game against Australia will be held on July 16 before the series wraps up against Spain on July 18.
The US women, who are bidding to capture a seventh straight Olympic title this year, meanwhile, will face Australia on July 16 before facing Nigeria on July 18.
International teams also based in Las Vegas will play each other, with Argentina’s men facing Australia on July 10 before taking on Nigeria on July 12. Australia plays Nigeria on July 13.
USA Basketball said comprehensive health and safety protocols will be in placed including regular Covid-19 testing of players, coaches, officials and support staff.
The US men’s and women’s squads will be named at a later date.
