In addition to the five Team USA training camp invitees that have already withdrawn from 2019 World Cup consideration, a member of the Select Team has now removed his name from the player pool as well. USA Basketball director Jerry Colangelo tells Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter link) that No. 1 overall pick Zion Williamson won’t suit up for the program this summer.
As Charania details in a follow-up tweet, Williamson and the Pelicans are focused on making sure the former Duke standout is “fully integrated” in New Orleans this fall.
Williamson had been on track to participate on the Select Team which will scrimmage against Team USA’s training camp roster next month in advance of the World Cup in China. The Pelicans’ big man reportedly would have had a chance to earn a spot on the 12-man roster with a strong showing, but that scenario is no longer in play.
Williamson joins Anthony Davis, James Harden, Bradley Beal, CJ McCollum, and Eric Gordon among the players who have pulled out of Team USA obligations so far this offseason. The program is still waiting on final decisions from Damian Lillard and Kevin Love, tweets Joe Vardon of The Athletic.
While Team USA hasn’t officially announced the list of players who will make up the Select Team in August, reports have indicated that John Collins, Marvin Bagley, De’Aaron Fox, Jarrett Allen, Mitchell Robinson, and Trae Young are among those expected to participate. If more members of the initial 20-man camp roster withdraw, some of those youngsters could receive consideration for the final 12-man roster.
Duh
Pass the pork chops…
It’s almost like Team USA is not interested in the World Cup
Good on Zion! Right decision, no complaints from anyone there!
I want to c them just send the young guys. Trae Young, Fox, Kevin Knox, Bagley, Collins, Robinson, DeAndre Hunter, Allen, Kuzma, Donovan Mitchell, Maybe a Huerter for another outside shooter… I think it would put more eye balls on the games watching the young guns repping team USA in the World Cup.
Forgot Tatum… Drop the shooter comment and add Tatum. Done let’s get it done