TOKYO (AFP) – Olympic men’s basketball champion the United States will play France in its Tokyo Games opener on July 25 – three days after the end of the NBA Finals – organizers said Monday.
The mighty US, aiming to win their fourth straight gold and 16th in total, will face the French at Saitama Stadium, north of the Japanese capital, on the first day of the basketball competition.
They will then play Iran on July 28 and a yet-to-be-determined qualifier at the same venue on July 31. The NBA Finals are scheduled to conclude on July 22.
Greece, China, Canada, Uruguay, the Czech Republic and Turkey will play a qualifying event in Canada in late June to determine the final team in the group.
Australia and Nigeria will also face off on the opening day, before host nation Japan begin their campaign against Spain, bronze medalists at Rio 2016, a day later.
The women’s competition gets under way on July 26 with South Korea taking on Spain in the first match.
The US women, who are looking for their seventh straight gold and ninth overall, open against Nigeria on July 27.
The US women will then take on Japan on July 30 and France on August 2.
Noah calls time on NBA career
LOS ANGELES (AFP) – French international Joakim Noah announced his retirement from basketball on Monday, ending a 13-season NBA career.
Noah, 36, confirmed earlier reports he planned to retire in a statement on Instagram.
”It was a hell of a ride,” Noah wrote. ”Thank you to all those who show me love throughout my journey.”
The two-time NBA All-Star, who was named the league’s 2014 Defensive Player of the Year, eventually plans to retire as a member of the Chicago Bulls — the team that picked him in the 2007 Draft.
Noah, the son of French tennis great Yannick Noah, enjoyed the best years of his career with the Bulls during nine seasons in Chicago.
He joined the New York Knicks in 2016 but his appearances were limited by injury as well as a 20-game suspension for a doping violation.
He joined the Memphis Grizzlies for the 2018-2019 campaign, averaging 7.1 points per game in 42 appearances.
Hawks fire head coach Pierce: official
LOS ANGELES (AFP) – The Atlanta Hawks fired head coach Lloyd Pierce on Monday following the team’s lackluster start to the season.
A statement from the Hawks said Pierce had been ”relieved of his duties” as the team attempted to reinvigorate their season.
Atlanta are currently 11th in the Eastern Conference standings with 14 wins and 20 defeats, just outside the playoff places.
”We would like to thank Lloyd for his work and commitment to not only the Hawks organization but the city of Atlanta,” Hawks president of basketball operations Travis Schlenk said in a statement.
”We have high expectations for our team on the court and we believe by making this change now that we can have a strong second half of the season,” Schlenk added.
Pierce took over as Hawks head coach in 2018, compiling a 63-120 record in his 183 games in charge. ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������J
