NBA Champion Pulls Out As Team USA Withdrawals Continue

Kyle Lowry became the latest player to withdraw from Team USA ahead of the FIBA Basketball World Cup beginning in Shanghai on Aug. 31. But the Toronto Raptors point guard had a genuine reason, unlike other players who withdrew only to focus on the upcoming NBA season.

The 2019 NBA champion has failed to recover from the right thumb surgery he had in July and has hence decided to pull out of the squad preparing for the World Cup. Lowry has not received the medical clearance to begin playing and it is unlikely to happen before the showpiece event begins later this month.

ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski first reported Lowry’s exit from the team, but the player himself confirmed his decision via his official Instagram account. He traveled with the team for the training camp despite the injury, but has not received the clearance necessary to join Gregg Popovich’s group for the World Cup.

“This is a status update message regarding the 2019 Fiba World Cup. I was hoping to be cleared and ready for the tournament but I was not cleared for full basketball activities,” Lowry wrote on Instagram. “I was hoping to be available in time to help my country in their quest for gold this upcoming tournament.”

“I love playing for USAB but I have to sit this one out and support the team from home. At the end of the day I believe the men that are playing will be great and will win the gold for our country…GO USAB,” the Raptors guard added.

Sacramento Kings’ Marvin Bagley III was another player to withdraw from Team USA lately to focus on the upcoming NBA season. New York Times’ Marc Stein reported that the power forward had pulled out despite impressing in training and being in contention to book a place in the final 12-man roster for the World Cup.

“Bagley III had played his way into contention for a frontcourt spot on the final 12-man roster that Team USA will field for the FIBA World Cup in China but elected to step aside before the team reconvenes Tuesday in Los Angeles to keep the focus on next season with the Kings,” Stein wrote.