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This has been a wild week for Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday and it is about to get crazier. Seventy-two hours ago, Holiday, Middleton and the Milwaukee Bucks won their first NBA title in 50 years. Today, Middleton and Holiday are on a plane headed to Tokyo, Japan for the start of the Olympics. The two first-time NBA champions are expected to be available for the start of Team USA's men's basketball run.
Holiday and Middleton will not be the only NBA stars heading to Tokyo this weekend. Phoenix Suns Guard Devin Booker, who lost the 2021 NBA Finals, will also be traveling to Tokyo on a later flight. Despite falling in six games to Middleton, Holiday and the Bucks, he said there are no hard feelings on his end and he's looking forward to representing the United States in the Olympics.
"I would say just understanding competition and that it's never personal between who you're going with, unless lines are crossed," Booker explained.
"Those guys aren't that type and I would never go that way with them, because there's a high respect level for each other. Representing your country is a whole different dynamic than competing against each other in the NBA Finals, but I can always respect somebody that competes at the highest level."
Rounding out the group of late attendees, Bulls Forward Zach LaVine is expected to join Team USA and play in their Olympic opener. LaVine didn't travel with the team as he had previously hoped to because he was placed under health and safety protocols along with Jerami Grant and Bradley Beal. LaVine and Grant were able to pass through health and safety protocols, but Beal has been ruled out of Olympic play.
Team USA will face off against France on July 25 at 7 a.m. ET in Tokyo, Japan.
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