By John Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
A few days after being promoted from the Select Team, Marvin Bagley III withdrew from Team USA’s training camp to focus on the upcoming NBA season, per Marc Stein of the New York Times. The 20-year-old forward is just the latest Team USA player to decide against representing his country in the 2019 FIBA World Cup set to take place between August 31st and September 15th at China.
Harrison Barnes, Jaylen Brown, De’Aaron Fox, Joe Harris, Kyle Kuzma, Brook Lopez, Kyle Lowry, Khris Middleton, Donovan Mitchell, Mason Plumlee, Marcus Smart, Jayson Tatum, P.J. Tucker, Myles Turner, Kemba Walker and Derrick White are the 16 remaining NBA players, out of which 12 will make the final cut.
Team USA is set to resume practices at Los Angeles on Tuesday and face Spain on Friday at Anaheim. Gregg Popovich’s side will afterwards fly to Australia for a couple of exhibition games versus the Australian national team.
The Czech Republic will be the first World Cup opponent on September 1st at Shanghai. Group E action will conclude with matches against Turkey on September 3rd and Japan on September 5th.