The Opening Ceremonies of the London Olympics are only a month away, and Team USA has lost yet another star. Dwyane Wade informed head coach Mike Krzyzewski and USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo on Thursday that he is officially out for the Olympic Games, as he will instead undergo surgery on his ailing right knee.
“I’ve decided to listen to my doctors and get the procedure I need on my knee,” Wade explained. “USA Basketball said I had to do what was best for me. They want me to be obviously as healthy as possible so I can continue to play this game at a high level. They were very supportive and told me if I ever want to come around the team, I’m welcome and that I’m part of the family.”
Back in May, Wade surprised some people when he said he had still not decided if he was going to participate in the Olympics. He mentioned health as a potential issue, so perhaps he foresaw that the knee could become an issue when the NBA season came to a close. He added that he will miss the “camaraderie” Team USA’s gold medal squad built in Beijing but that his top priority is being healthy at the start of the NBA season to help Miami defend their NBA title.
Despite missing nine playoff games, Chris Bosh said earlier this week that he is “all in — for now” and will consult doctors before making a decision about Team USA. Having already lost Derrick Rose and Dwight Howard to injuries, there are now 17 players vying for 12 spots on the Olympic roster. The team will still have plenty of talent with guys like LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Kobe Bryant, and Russell Westbrook leading the way, but a number of injuries have resulted in the London team having a different look than the one that dominated Beijing.
