Spurs Standout Keldon Johnson Officially Added to 2021 US Olympic Team

It’s Been A While

San Antonio is adding the first Spurs player to a US Olympic team since Tim Duncan and David Robinson. Second year player Keldon Johnson will be joining the roster for the upcoming games. He will take one of the two spots left open by Bradley Beal and Kevin Love.

Does he belong there?

Some have questioned the move and whether Johnson is the right player for the job.  The young Texas pro averaged 12.8 points, 6 rebounds, and 1.8 assists over an average of 28.5 minutes a game this past season.

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Gaining Support

Despite some skepticism from around the league, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports that there was “significant support and momentum for Spurs forward to be added to 12-man team USA roster” in a recent tweet. Johnson went on to prove his case on Sunday, helping to bring a win for national team during an exhibition game against Spain. He went for 15 points and 7-9 shooting on the night.

Next Man Up

These games are really to get the team prepared for Tokyo, but probably more importantly to get the USA men’s basketball team on the same page after COVID issues have begun to plague the roster. So it will have to be a “next man up” mentality if any other issues arise.

Familiar Face

One person Johnson should probably be on the same page as is the head coach for team USA. Gregg Popovich is not just his coach for the Olympics, he’s also the head coach for the Spurs. Knowing how Pop operates and what he expects is probably one of the biggest factors in a smooth transition for Johnson. So far, he seems to be on the right track as the next Texas player to compete for gold.