Detroit Pistons forward Jerami Grant, a member of the 2021 Team USA Olympic men’s basketball team, has entered health and safety protocols at their camp in Las Vegas, according to The Athletic. Grant has not tested positive for COVID-19, and it’s unclear how much time he will miss.
Team USA has two more exhibition games — on Friday against Australia and Sunday against Spain — before traveling to Japan for the opening ceremony in Tokyo. They will play their first game of the tournament July 25 against France.
Washington Wizards star Bradley Beal has also entered protocols, and USA Basketball announced on Thursday that he would not participate in the Olympics. Team USA is “working to replace” him on the roster, according to ESPN.
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The COVID guidelines for athletes before arriving in Tokyo include:
• Athletes are expected to monitor their symptoms for the 14 days before they are to arrive in Tokyo.
• If any athlete experiences any symptoms of COVID-19 in the 14 days before arrival, they should not travel to Japan. They must also inform their COVID liaison officer and consult with a medical professional for next steps.
• Every U.S. athlete must have two negative COVID tests, done on separate days, within 96 hours of departure. One of those tests has to be within 72 hours of departure.
• If a COVID-19 test is positive, the athlete must immediately begin self-isolation in line with local rules and contact their COVID liaison officer, who will record symptoms, test results and close contacts, as well as inform Tokyo officials and agree on next steps.
Grant played nearly eight minutes during Tuesday’s exhibition win against Argentina, and recorded three blocks. Team USA was upset in its first two exhibitions vs. Nigeria and Australia. He started for the U.S. against Australia, but played only 13 minutes, scoring five points on 2-for-5 shooting with three rebounds and three assists. In the U.S.’s opening loss, Grant came off the bench to score six points in 17 minutes of action.
Grant had a breakout season for the Pistons last season — he received All-Star votes and finished as the runner-up in Most Improved Player voting — and is the franchise’s first player to make the Olympics since Tayshaun Prince in 2008.
USA TODAY Sports contributed to this Contact Omari Sankofa II at osankofa@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @omarisankofa. Read more on the Detroit Pistons and sign up for our Pistons newsletter.