Team USA will have to replace another player on the men’s basketball team after five-time NBA All-Star Kevin Love withdrew from the U.S. Olympic team on Friday, citing his “performance” level, according to multiple reports.
Love’s agent, Jeff Schwartz, confirmed the news to ESPN Friday morning after the Cleveland Cavaliers star forward had already spent days with the team preparing in Las Vegas.
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“I am incredibly disappointed to not be heading to Tokyo with Team USA,” Love’s statement read. “but you need to be at absolute peak performance to compete at the Olympic level and I am just not there yet.”
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Love’s absence will no doubt be noticed as well. He won a gold medal with Team USA in the 2010 FIBA Championships and the 2012 London Games.
Love’s place on the roster became a point of contention for ESPN broadcaster Jalen Rose last month after he said the 2016 NBA champion was only included “because of tokenism.” Rose later apologized to “the game” but stood by his stance that Love should not have made the team.
The Americans head to Tokyo with their opening game against France set for July 25.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.