With the Team USA roster set, many fans are excited for the upcoming Tokyo Olympics.
Others, like ESPN’s Jalen Rose, are a bit disappointed.
On Jalen & Jacoby, he explained why:
“Kevin Love is on the team because of tokenism,” said Rose. Don’t be scared to make an all black team representing the United States of America. I’m disappointed by that.”
Jalen Rose says Kevin Love, the only white player on the team, is a "token" because the NBA is afraid to send an all black team to the Olympics.
Uh, the 2016 was all black?
Translation: Rose is very mad a white player made the team:https://t.co/HFiDEGYaLE
— Bobby Burack (@burackbobby_) June 24, 2021
Rose isn’t the only ESPN voice to mention race in regards to an NBA topic. Stephen A. Smith and Jay Williams have spoken up in the past about the same issue.
In fact, it’s a regular talking point on the network, and some folks have clearly had enough.
As for why Kevin Love was invited to the Team USA roster, that’s something you’ll have to ask Team USA.
All we know for sure is that a number of other (black) players declined their invitations. Also, Love is an experienced veteran and 5x NBA All-Star. Even at 32-years-old, he adds a lot to the roster.
So, despite the criticism, Love deserves a spot on the team and neither the team nor Love himself seems fazed Jalen Rose’s opinion on the topic.
Nevertheless, it will be interesting to see how people respond in the coming weeks.
