Chris Paul endorses Kyle Lowry for spot on USA Olympic team
With Los Angeles Clippers All-Star point guard Chris Paul choosing to take his name out of consideration for the 2016 Olympic Men's Basketball team, an opening presents itself for a new face to don the red, white, and blue in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
It would have been Paul's third straight Olympics had he earned a spot on the roster, having already won two gold medals with the team in 2008 (Beijing, China) and 2012 (London, England).
Stephen Curry, Russell Westbrook, John Wall, Mike Conley, Kyrie Irving, and Damian Lillard are the remaining guards among the 30 finalists vying for a spot. Paul, however, has his eye on another floor general who he believes would bring an extra dose of toughness to the squad.
"Of course, you'll have Curry and those guys," Paul said to Sports Illustrated's Lee Jenkins. "Someone else I think would be great is Kyle Lowry. I love watching him play. You need that grit."
Lowry, 30, found himself starting for the Eastern Conference All-Stars for a second straight season this year as a result of fan voting, while also earning two NBA Player of the Week awards and a Player of the Month win in January.
He's averaging a career-best 21.6 points, along with 6.5 assists and 4.8 rebounds in 37.2 minutes for the 49-24 Toronto Raptors.
The 12-man Olympic roster will be set in late June.