By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook and Houston Rockets guard James Harden became the latest stars to announce they are withdrawing their names from consideration for USA Basketball’s 2016 Rio Olympics team.
“After speaking with my family, I have decided to not participate in this year’s Olympics,” Westbrook said in a statement Friday. “This was not an easy decision, as representing my country at the World Championships in 2010 and the Olympics in 2012 were career highlights for me. I look forward to future opportunities as a member of USA Basketball.”
Harden called his decision a “painstaking one that I did not take lightly.”
“As a member of the 2012 London Olympic Gold Medal Team, and as Team Captain for the 2014 FIBA Gold Medal Team, it goes without saying that USA Basketball has provided me with some of the most meaningful personal and professional accomplishments of my life,” Harden said. “I have been extremely blessed to wear the ‘red, white, and blue’ and to compete at the highest international level with the greatest players representing the greatest country in the world. I sincerely hope I’ll earn an opportunity to represent Team USA again in the future.”
Westbrook and Harden join a growing list of players who have pulled out of the original 31-player pool, including Stephen Curry (knee rest), LaMarcus Aldridge (finger), Chris Paul (hand), Anthony Davis (knee, shoulder) and John Wall (knee).