Top draft pick Zion Williamson is the latest star player to withdraw from Team USA’s training camp for the FIBA World Cup, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic. Philadelphia 76ers guard Tobias Harris has also withdrawn from the tournament.
The two join Bradley Beal, James Harden, Anthony Davis, C.J. McCollum and Eric Gordon on a growing list of players who have withdrawn from the tournament in recent days.
The New Orleans Pelicans took Williamson, a freshman forward out of Duke, with the first pick in June’s NBA Draft. Last season with the Blue Devils he averaged 22.6 points and 8.9 rebounds in 33 games.
His Duke teammate, R.J. Barrett, who went third overall to the New York Knicks, was one of 29 players invited to Team Canada’s camp ahead of the tournament.
Harris, 27, is withdrawing to focus on preparing for the upcoming NBA season, according to Charania. Last season split with the Los Angeles Clippers and 76ers, he averaged 20 points, 7.9 rebounds and shot 39 per cent from three.
The FIBA World Cup runs from Aug. 31 to Sept. 15 in China.
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