Clippers’ Blake Griffin likely to miss Rio Olympics

LOS ANGELES, USA – Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin had a bone-marrow procedure on his left thigh injury and will miss the USA team’s preparations for the Rio Olympics making it unlikely he’ll play in the 2016 Games.

Griffin has started rehabilitation since undergoing the procedure on April 27 to address his left quadriceps tendon injury.

The Clippers said in a statement on Friday that he would miss Team USA’s training camp and exhibition tour used to ready the squad for the Olympic games.

“Griffin underwent a bone marrow procedure on his left quad tendon on April 27 and has already begun the rehabilitation process with the expectation that he will be ready for the start of the 2016-17 NBA season,” the Clippers said, making no mention of the Olympics themselves.

A spokesman for USA Basketball told AFP the team for Rio would ideally be selected from players who take part in the training camp and exhibition games, but it’s not impossible that a player could be drafted in without doing so.

The 12-man US squad is expected to be announced at the end of June.

Griffin would become the third member of the 31-player Team USA pool who won’t play because of an injury, joining New Orleans’ Anthony Davis and Washington’s John Wall.

His Clippers teammate Chris Paul withdrew from consideration before breaking his hand in April, saying he preferred to rest this off-season.

Griffin, a five-time All-Star, was injured in late December. He missed 41 games during the regular season, playing just five games between his return and the start of the playoffs. – Rappler.com