“LeBron James and Steph Curry wanted to play”: NBA players’ hopes of going to Tokyo Olympics may be dashed as Japanese government looks likely to cancel

The 2021 Tokyo Olympics are in imminent threat of being cancelled if the current situation persists during the pandemic.

One of the most prestigious sporting events, which occurs every once in four years, is the Summer Olympics Games. The 2020 Olympics were to be held in Tokyo, Japan. Unfortunately, the deadly coronavirus took the world by storm, because of which the 2020 Tokyo Olympics were postponed to 2021.

Now, the 2021 Tokyo Olympics Games are highly unlikely to be conducted. The Japanese government have lost the faith internally in their ability to pull off the Games amidst the virus. One of the NBA’s biggest hurdles this season was to plan the structure and time table of the season.

By when would they try and finish the 72-game season amid the coronavirus. The Games being cancelled, it could give the league more freedom to elongate the season. An entire regular season could be underway, while the league still maintaining its health and safety protocols.

VIDEO: 🇯🇵 When the #TokyoOlympics were postponed last year, officials promised they would open in 2021 as proof of mankind’s triumph over the coronavirus. But six months before the rescheduled start, fears are growing that the Games may not take place at all #AFPSports pic.twitter.com/rvHIu1k0vm

— AFP News Agency (@AFP) January 21, 2021

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LeBron James and Stephen Curry wanted to participate in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics Games

Many NBA players were hoping to finish their season before the Olympics who would want to participate in the Games. This is a blow to athletes all over the world training their whole lives for this prestigious moment.

Stephen Curry had spoken about how he would want to participate in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics as he’s never represented his country at the Olympics. LeBron James, too, was open about the idea to participate at the Olympics.

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It is safe to say that the favourites of the tournament were The USA. The USA Men’s Basketball team is by far the most successful country in Olympic Basketball. They have won 15 out of the 18 tournaments in which they have participated. This includes a streak of 7 titles won between 1936 to 1968.

The cancelled Olympics will open up more possibilities for the NBA schedule. It would also presumably give players more time to recover for the next season.