Report: Hayward turns down offer to join Team USA
Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward's summer plans won't include suiting up for the U.S. Olympic team in Rio de Janeiro.
The 26-year-old has turned down an offer to join the roster due to family reasons, according to The Deseret News' Jody Genessy.
He released the following statement concerning his decision to decline:
Statement from Gordon Hayward (@gordonhayward) regarding USA Basketball pic.twitter.com/0A4yWlR81W
— Priority Sports (@PrioritySports) June 23, 2016
While not confirmed, the Zika virus has caused several athletes to decline taking part in the Games this year, and with Hayward's wife pregnant with their second child, it may not be worth the risk to head to Brazil.
Hayward represented his country as a member of the gold-medal team in the 2009 FIBA Under 19 World Championships in Auckland, New Zealand, but has never made the cut for the Men's National team.
He did, however, compete for the U.S. Select team in 2013, and was one of the final cuts for the 2014 roster that went on to win the FIBA Basketball World Cup.
"I've done everything I can do to try to make the team," Hayward said during the Jazz's exit interviews back in April. "If they pick me, I'll be ecstatic. If not, that's how it goes sometimes. Like I said, I put in the time over the past three summers. Hopefully, I'll make it."
Hayward averaged 19.7 points, five rebounds, and 3.7 assists in 80 appearances last season for the Jazz.