Zion Williamson, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, will not be playing with Team USA this summer at the FIBA World Cup, Team USA director Jerry Colangelo told The Athletic. This comes after Williamson missed most of Las Vegas Summer League due to a bruised knee, and discussions about whether he was out of shape. If he played, Williamson would have been part of a "select" team of up-and-coming players, according to Marc Stein of the New York Times, but would have had an opportunity to make the final 12-man roster. Per Shams Charania, Williamson and the Pelicans want the rookie to spend the offseason getting "fully integrated" with the franchise.
In addition to Williamson, Cleveland Cavaliers star Kevin Love has now withdrawn his name from Team USA for the World Cup that begins at the end of August, according to Charania. Furthermore, the Portland Trail Blazers All-Star guard Damian Lillard also withdrew from the team on Tuesday, per Charania, as has San Antonio Spurs swingman DeMar DeRozan. Kyle Lowry, however, reportedly remains committed and should be ready to practice midway through Team USA's camp as he recovers from thumb surgery.
Washington Wizards star Bradley Beal reportedly dropped out of consideration on Monday as well. He'll miss the event due to the upcoming birth of his child, according to Yahoo's Chris Haynes. Furthermore, Philadelphia 76ers swingman Tobias Harris has removed himself from consideration, per the Philadelphia Inquirer's Keith Pompey.
With all of the players dropping out, the team needed to bring in some reinforcements, and Charania reported that Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart and Chicago Bulls forward Thaddeus Young have been added to the team's training camp roster. Also joining the roster, according to Charania, are Celtics guard Jaylen Brown and Knicks big man Julius Randle.
Williamson, Beal, Lillard, DeRozan and Harris make it 12 players to withdraw from the team this month, along with Lakers forward Anthony Davis, Rockets guards James Harden and Eric Gordon, Clippers forward Montrezl Harrell, Pelicans guard JJ Redick, Pistons center Andre Drummond and Trail Blazers guard CJ McCollum.
Thursday, USA Basketball issued a press release naming six additions to their training camp roster as well as the players who have been named to the USA Basketball Select Team.
Players that have committed
Jaylen Brown (Boston Celtics)Mason Plumlee (Denver Nuggets)Julius Randle (New York Knicks)Marcus Smart (Boston Celtics)Thaddeus Young (Chicago Bulls)Harrison Barnes (Sacramento Kings)Kyle Kuzma (Los Angeles Lakers)Brook Lopez (Milwaukee Bucks)Kyle Lowry (Toronto Raptors)Khris Middleton (Milwaukee Bucks)Donovan Mitchell (Utah Jazz)Jayson Tatum (Boston Celtics)P.J. Tucker (Houston Rockets)Myles Turner (Indiana Pacers)Kemba Walker (Boston Celtics)Bam Adebayo (Miami Heat)Players that have withdrawn
Bradley Beal (Washington Wizards)Anthony Davis (Los Angeles Lakers)Eric Gordon (Houston Rockets)James Harden (Houston Rockets)Tobias Harris (Philadelphia 76ers)Damian Lillard (Portland Trail Blazers)Kevin Love (Cleveland Cavaliers)CJ McCollum (Portland Trail Blazers)Paul Millsap (Denver Nuggets)Montrezl Harrell (Los Angeles Clippers)JJ Redick (New Orleans Pelicans)Andre Drummond (Detroit Pistons)Select Team roster
Jarrett Allen (Brooklyn Nets)Marvin Bagley III (Sacramento Kings)Mikal Bridges (Phoenix Suns)Jalen Brunson (Dallas Mavericks)John Collins (Atlanta Hawks)Pat Connaughton (Milwaukee Bucks)De'Aaron Fox (Sacramento Kings)Joe Harris (Brooklyn Nets)Jonathan Isaac (Orlando Magic)Mitchell Robinson (New York Knicks)Landry Shamet (Los Angeles Clippers)Derrick White (San Antonio Spurs)Trae Young (Atlanta Hawks)Jaren Jackson Jr. (Memphis Grizzlies)The team will ultimately be trimmed down to 12 players by head coach Gregg Popovich. The final roster will be announced on Aug. 17.
While Popovich says trimming the roster down to 12 is never easy, clearly some of the players are helping him out by withdrawing on their own. Regardless of who is on the final roster, Popovich is excited to work with some of the best players in the league while representing the United States.
"I am excited about getting to training camp in August and working with all of the players that have been selected to attend the USA National Team training camp in Las Vegas," Popovich said. "We've got an excellent cross-section of veteran USA Basketball and NBA players, as well as some exciting younger players who possess amazing versatility.
"I'm appreciative of commitment that our National Team players continue to make, and the eagerness of the new players to become involved. Selecting a 12-man team will be extremely difficult. But I look forward to working with all of the players, representing the United States and doing so in a manner that all Americans will hopefully rally behind."
USA Basketball is scheduled to hold training camp in Las Vegas from August 5-8 and will participate in the FIBA World Cup in China from Aug. 31 to Sept. 15. The team is also set to play exhibition contests in Australia and California prior to the FIBA World Cup.
