“It’s an honor to have been considered for the team and I hope that in the future I will have the chance to represent my country by playing for USA Basketball”, Leonard said.
Advertisement
His decision comes in the wake of a flurry of both commitments and withdrawals that saw National Basketball Association superstars like Anthony and Kevin Durant reportedly commit to Team USA, while others, like Stephen Curry and Russell Westbrook, have opted to skip the proceedings. Cleveland’s LeBron James just announced earlier Thursday he, too, will not be participating. Of the 10 names on the list so far, Anthony (2004, 2008, 2012) and Durant (2012) are the only ones with Olympic experience.
Lin averaged 11.7 points, 3.0 assists and 3.2 rebounds for the Hornets last season.
DeRozan played for the Americans when they won the gold medal at the Basketball World Cup in 2014, but Lowry’s inclusion on the roster was a surprise, since he wasn’t even in the Americans’ roster pool of 31 players. “To me, that’s the way I look at it and the way I approach the Olympics”.
Anthony, 32, said last month that he was unsure whether he’d play, in part because of concerns over the Zika virus, a mosquito-borne illness affecting Brazil.
To see the finalists for the NBA roster, check out the USA Men’s National Team website.
“I think from a morale standpoint as a player if you’ve been through the things that I’ve been through the past couple of years you want to feel what that success feels like”, Anthony said.
Stephen Curry will not play, as the two-time MVP is taking the summer to rest.
Advertisement
The team, which will be coached by Duke University legend Mike Krzyzewski, will come together for a training camp in Las Vegas in late-July.
