Kevin Durant will not play for Team USA at the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup, USA Basketball announced on Thursday.
The two-week long tournament tips off on 30 August in Spain, and the Americans will play in Group Phase along with the Dominican Republic, Finland, New Zealand, Turkey and Ukraine.
Durant, the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the 2010 FIBA Basketball World Cup has become the fourth key player – after Kevin Love, Kawhi Leonard and Blake Griffin - to withdraw from the world champions’ team.
The MVP of 2013-14 NBA season alleges mental and physical fatigue for his decision, although he considers representing his country in the future.
“This was an extremely difficult decision as I take great pride in representing our country,” Durant said. “I know that I owe it to my USA Basketball teammates to be totally invested in the experience. After going through training camp with USAB, I realised I could not fulfill my responsibilities to the team from both a time and energy standpoint. I need to take a step back and take some time away, both mentally and physically in order to prepare for the upcoming NBA season. I will be rooting for USAB and look forward to future opportunities with them.”
Durant has helped the Team USA to clinch one World Cup (2010) and 2012 London Olympics gold medal, and he took part in the team’s preparation last week in Las Vegas.
Jerry Colangelo, USA Basketball National Team Managing Director, supported Durant’s decision by saying: “Kevin reached out to Coach K (Mike Krzyzewski) and myself this afternoon and expressed that he is just physically and mentally drained from the NBA season and his attention to his many responsibilities. He tried to give it a go at our recent Las Vegas training camp but felt coming out of camp that he was not prepared to fulfill the commitment he made to the team.
“Coach K and I fully support Kevin. His well being is the most important thing to us and we support him taking the time to get ready for next season. He’s been part of the National Team program for eight years and a big part of the success we have achieved, and we look forward to him being part of our success in the future as well.”
USA Basketball will play an exhibition game on 16 August against Brazil in Chicago, followed by two exhibition games at Madison Square Garden against the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico.
The two-week long tournament tips off on 30 August in Spain, and the Americans will play in Group Phase along with the Dominican Republic, Finland, New Zealand, Turkey and Ukraine.
Durant, the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the 2010 FIBA Basketball World Cup has become the fourth key player – after Kevin Love, Kawhi Leonard and Blake Griffin - to withdraw from the world champions’ team.
The MVP of 2013-14 NBA season alleges mental and physical fatigue for his decision, although he considers representing his country in the future.
“This was an extremely difficult decision as I take great pride in representing our country,” Durant said. “I know that I owe it to my USA Basketball teammates to be totally invested in the experience. After going through training camp with USAB, I realised I could not fulfill my responsibilities to the team from both a time and energy standpoint. I need to take a step back and take some time away, both mentally and physically in order to prepare for the upcoming NBA season. I will be rooting for USAB and look forward to future opportunities with them.”
Durant has helped the Team USA to clinch one World Cup (2010) and 2012 London Olympics gold medal, and he took part in the team’s preparation last week in Las Vegas.
Jerry Colangelo, USA Basketball National Team Managing Director, supported Durant’s decision by saying: “Kevin reached out to Coach K (Mike Krzyzewski) and myself this afternoon and expressed that he is just physically and mentally drained from the NBA season and his attention to his many responsibilities. He tried to give it a go at our recent Las Vegas training camp but felt coming out of camp that he was not prepared to fulfill the commitment he made to the team.
“Coach K and I fully support Kevin. His well being is the most important thing to us and we support him taking the time to get ready for next season. He’s been part of the National Team program for eight years and a big part of the success we have achieved, and we look forward to him being part of our success in the future as well.”
USA Basketball will play an exhibition game on 16 August against Brazil in Chicago, followed by two exhibition games at Madison Square Garden against the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico.
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