Paris Olympics: Another Injury Setback Shakes Up Team USA After Kawhi Leonard & Joel Embiid News

Team USA is facing another hurdle in their quest for the 2024 Paris Olympics’ gold medal. After two of their players, Kawhi Leonard and Joel Embiid suffered injuries on the court, their potential replacement, Jalen Brunson seems to be suffering from a similar fate. Call it just bad timing, or a streak of bad luck, this news is going to pose a series of problems for Team USA.

As the Knicks announce that Jalen Brunson recently underwent surgery on his fracture caused in Game 7 (New York Knicks vs Indiana Pacers), he is set to be reevaluated in a few weeks. As per the NBA insider, Keith Smith, he will probably take about 6 to 8 weeks to recover from the same, meaning that he might be potentially out from representing his nation in the upcoming Olympics.

Brunson was supposed to replace Team USA’s already injured players; Kawhi Leonard and Joel Embiid. Both of them have missed several games this season owing to their injuries. This summer was important for Brunson. After the 2023 FIBA World Cup loss, this was a chance for him to establish himself.

The Knicks have had unfortunate luck with injuries this season. Several players from the roster, including Bojan Bogdanović, Mitchell Robinson and Josh Hart. According to an NBA insider, their star Forward Bogdanović might not be able to represent Croatia in the Olympics. It seems that both Brunson and Bogdanović will have to miss out on national team duties this summer.

Brunson injured himself in Game 7 against the Pacers as he tried to steal the ball from Tyrese Haliburton. He suffered a fracture in his left hand as he swiped down on the ball and accidentally hit Tyrese’s leg. According to the player, he didn’t realize the impact until much later. “I thought I just jammed it, to be honest with you,” he said. Meanwhile, Bojan got caught up in a tackle with Nicolas Batum in a match against the Philadelphia 76ers. Batum fell on Bojan’s left ankle causing it to twist and the latter fell to the ground in pain. This was his second major injury season after his wrist ligament injury for which he recently went under surgery. He will also undergo treatment for his ankle. Both Brunson and Bojan are currently in recovery. As their respective teams look for potential replacements, some names have popped up, including none other than Trae Young.

Will Trae Young finally be able to play for Team USA?

The Olympics draw nearer and the team must quickly fill in the absences left by the injuries of their star players. In the midst of this, Trae Young—whose previous exclusion from the FIBA World Cup roster created controversy—is a potential replacement. The Atlanta Hawks Point Guard’s absence drew a lot of criticism last year. With Jalen Brunson gone, Young might be able to secure himself a position in Team USA.

The Point Guard has averaged 25.7 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 10.8 assists this season. He is widely acknowledged for his playmaking skills and has a career-high of 20 assists. He ranks fourth on the list of highest assists per game in NBA history with an average of 9.5 assists per game. But he is not the only one on the list of probable candidates. Considering Team USA’s previously released pool of 41 players, there are several other names on the table. The list includes names like Paolo Banchero, Jimmy Butler, Chet Holmgren, Kyrie Irving and others.

These unexpected injuries have put Team USA in a tough spot but has opened up opportunities for other players on the pool. Trae Young’s potential replacement of Brunson could be a story of redemption and recognition for the rising star. The decision is crucial if they plan on winning their second consecutive gold this season. Tensions grow as the dates for training draw closer.