The days of Team Shamrock — as the cadre of Boston Celtics players who suited up for Team USA the summer before last were often called — feel like they were in another century at this point, but the participation of Marcus Smart, Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Kemba Walker paid off.
The foursome reportedly made the final cut for the 2021 U.S. Olympic team, joining a total of 57 such finalists, though The Athletic’s Shams Charania reports that Smart will eschew the honor. Reportedly citing injury concerns derived from playing late into back-to-back seasons and an abbreviated offseason this summer, the Flower mound native makes sense given his recent calf tear.
Smart’s decision means Team Shamrock will be reduced by 25% in the final distribution of players vying for one of the roster spots on the U.S. Olympic team.
USA Basketball announces the 57 finalists for the U.S. men’s Olympic team: pic.twitter.com/uu7ZbULVU5
— David Aldridge (@davidaldridgedc) March 11, 2021
