Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard’s chances of wearing the red, white and blue at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, got another huge boost over the weekend.
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook and Houston Rockets guard James Harden, both of whom were on the 2012 Olympic team, have withdrawn from consideration to represent the United States at this summer’s Olympics.
Although neither stated a reason, the Bay Area News Group reported earlier this week that several NBA players, including LeBron James, are concerned with the Zika virus that has ravaged the South American nation and could end their candidacy because of it.