No. 1 Draft pick Zion Williamson has withdrawn from Team USA and FIBA World Cup play to keep his focus on preparing for the upcoming NBA season, according to a report from Shams Charania of The Athletic.
New Orleans Pelicans No. 1 overall pick Zion Williamson has withdrawn from USA Basketball's Select Team for FIBA World Cup training, Team USA director Jerry Colangelo told @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 22, 2019
Williamson joins a growing number of players who, either for personal reasons or to focus on the rapidly approaching NBA season, have decided not to participate this summer with USA Basketball.
News of Sixers forward Tobias Harris withdrawing also was reported Monday by Charania.
Philadelphia 76ers forward Tobias Harris has withdrawn from USA Basketball’s training camp and FIBA World Cup play to continue focus on preparing for upcoming NBA season, league sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 22, 2019
Earlier Monday, word of Bradley Beal’s withdrawal was reported by ESPN’s Brian Windhorst. Beal’s wife is expecting his second son during the training period for the competition, which runs from Aug. 31-Sept. 15.
During the previous week or so, James Harden, Anthony Davis, Eric Gordon and CJ McCollum reportedly decided not to compete in the World Cup this year.
Although the guard ranks will be somewhat depleted of NBA superstars, Team USA continues to have a deep pool of players available.
The Celtics’ Marcus Smart and Jaylen Brown are among the players under consideration to replace withdrawing stars, according to Joe Vardon of The Athletic.
Team USA Celtics? Marcus Smart, Jaylen Brown on list of replacements for defecting stars @TheAthleticNBA https://t.co/g0q36V6hWM
— Joe Vardon (@joevardon) July 22, 2019
