Just days after an ESPN report suggesting that no USA players planned to pull out of the FIBA World Cup, the team announced that Kevin Durant will, in fact, not be joining the squad in Spain:
Kevin Durant pulls out of FIBA World Cup
USA basketball lost another key frontcourt player.
Ethan Miller
Kevin Durant pulls out of USA camp for physical and emotions reasons and not due to Paul George, @usabasketball announced.
— Marc J. Spears (@SpearsNBAYahoo) August 7, 2014 George, of course, suffered a gruesome leg fracture that required season-ending surgery during the USA’s showcase in Las Vegas, but the reasons provided for Durant’s absence are purely his own:
"Kevin reached out to Coach K and myself this afternoon and expressed that he is just physically and mentally drained from the NBA season."
— Kurt Helin (@basketballtalk) August 7, 2014 "(Durant) felt coming out of camp that he was not prepared to fulfill the commitment he made to the team," said USA's Jerry Colangelo.
— Marc J. Spears (@SpearsNBAYahoo) August 7, 2014 Kevin Durant statement - pic.twitter.com/5gslzSYEHt
— Darnell Mayberry (@DarnellMayberry) August 7, 2014
Durant's departure is a huge blow to a U.S. squad already wanting for forward depth after George's injury. The small and power forward positions will have to be filled by the likes of Kenneth Faried, Chandler Parsons, Kyle Korver and Anthony Davis.
Team USA now has 15 finalists remaining on a roster that will have to be trimmed to 12 before the World Cup.
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