7msports > Basketball Video > Durant withdraws from Team USA
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Intro:
File footage of Oklahoma City Thunder's Kevin Durant - who recently announced his withdrawal from the USA national team, citing fatigue, ahead of the FIBA World Cup in Spain later this month.
Script:
Kevin Durant withdrew from the USA national basketball team, the biggest loss yet for a weakening American group that will go to the basketball World Cup without the leading scorer from its last two gold medal squads.
The NBA's MVP took part in the American training camp in Las Vegas last week, but then informed team officials that he wasn't going to continue.
Durant was the most valuable player of the world championship in 2010, leading the Americans to that title for the first time since 1994.
The Oklahoma City star also started on their gold medal-winning team in the 2012 Olympics and led the Americans with 19.5 points per game.
His withdrawal comes less than a week after Indiana's Paul George was ruled out with a broken right leg and follows previous withdrawals by All-Stars Kevin Love, Blake Griffin and LaMarcus Aldridge, and NBA Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard.
The Americans may still be the favourites, but are increasingly beatable with the losses of Durant and George, who were expected to fill the two starting forward spots.
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Durant withdraws from Team USA
Sunday, August 10 2014Category:Basketball