USA Basketball cancels exhibition against Australia amid health and safety concerns

USA Basketball announced on Thursday it would be canceling its exhibition match against Australia amid health and safety concerns.

“Out of an abundance of caution, the USA Men’s National Team exhibition versus Australia on Friday has been cancelled,” the team posted on Twitter.

Out of an abundance of caution, the USA Men’s National Team exhibition versus Australia on Friday has been cancelled.

The USA Women’s National Team’s matchup with Australia will be played at 2:30 PM ET on NBCSN.

— USA Basketball (@usabasketball) July 15, 2021

Along with the cancellation of the game, the team announced its point guard, Bradley Beal, will not be going to the Olympics after entering COVID-19 protocols. 

Another player, Jerami Grant, is also being placed under health protocols, but it seems he is still set to go to the Olympics.

Bradley Beal, who was placed under USA Basketball’s health & safety protocols on Wednesday, will remain in protocol & will be unable to participate in the Tokyo Olympic Games.

Out of an abundance of caution, Jerami Grant has been placed under health & safety protocols.

— USA Basketball (@usabasketball) July 15, 2021

The Olympics, set to begin in Tokyo on July 23, have been a hot spot for controversy due to the global rise in coronavirus cases and the fear the games would cause a spike in Japan. 

Tokyo is under its fourth state of emergency due to the virus as it is seeing the most cases the city has had in six months, less than a week before the games begin. 

The USA Basketball team has had disappointing exhibitions with other countries before the Olympics, including losing to Nigeria and Australia. The loss against Nigeria was potentially one of the biggest upsets in the sport’s international history, according to CBS Sports.

The team has won the last three gold medals at the Olympics.