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For the second straight time Blake Griffin will not represent the USA at a world stage tournament, he announced on Thursday just a few days before the world champions begin their training camp.
A couple of years ago, Griffin pulled out from the USA team that went on to win the 2012 London Olympics after suffering a medial meniscus tear of his left knee during a training camp with Team USA.
The Los Angeles Clippers forward was one of 19 players selected to the roster preparing for the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup, which will be staged in Spain from 30 August to 14 September.
Griffin said he wants to get focused and preparing for the 2014-15 NBA season.
With Griffin ruled out for Spain 2014, John Wall was called up to join the group, which will open their World Cup preparation next week in Las Vegas.
Griffin became the second big name pulling out from the team USA after Oklahoma City guard Russell Westbrook, who is resting previous knee injuries.
“I'm disappointed he's (Griffin) not going to be with us," USA Basketball President and national team managing director Jerry Colangelo said to USA Today.
"It's unfortunate (because) it's been two competitions in a row (that Griffin has missed), but it sounds like a broken record because it happened recently with someone else."
Team USA will open their World Cup campaign in Group C in Bilbao, along with Ukraine, Turkey, New Zealand, the Dominican Republic and Finland.
Despite missing Griffin and Westbrook, the World Cup defending champions are expecting to count with the services of Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose who missed most of the past NBA season through injury.
Mike Krzyzewski, the coach of the USA, remains positive about Rose’s comeback.
"We'd like to see him play like the Derrick of old because he is one of the best players in the world, an MVP in the NBA," Krzyzewski said.
"What we've heard is that he's in great shape.”
The USA squad ahead of the 2014 FIBA World Cup is as follows: Bradley Beal (Washington Wizards); DeMarcus Cousins (Sacramento Kings); Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors); Anthony Davis (New Orleans Pelicans); Andre Drummond (Detroit Pistons); Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City Thunder); Kenneth Faried (Denver Nuggets); Paul George (Indiana Pacers); John Wall (Washington Wizards); James Harden (Houston Rockets); Gordon Hayward (Utah Jazz); Kyrie Irving (Cleveland Cavaliers); Kyle Korver (Atlanta Hawks); Damian Lillard (Portland Trail Blazers); Kevin Love (Minnesota Timberwolves); Derrick Rose (Chicago Bulls); Klay Thompson (Golden State Warriors); DeMar DeRozan (Toronto Raptors); and Chandler Parsons (Dallas Mavericks).
A couple of years ago, Griffin pulled out from the USA team that went on to win the 2012 London Olympics after suffering a medial meniscus tear of his left knee during a training camp with Team USA.
The Los Angeles Clippers forward was one of 19 players selected to the roster preparing for the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup, which will be staged in Spain from 30 August to 14 September.
Griffin said he wants to get focused and preparing for the 2014-15 NBA season.
With Griffin ruled out for Spain 2014, John Wall was called up to join the group, which will open their World Cup preparation next week in Las Vegas.
Griffin became the second big name pulling out from the team USA after Oklahoma City guard Russell Westbrook, who is resting previous knee injuries.
“I'm disappointed he's (Griffin) not going to be with us," USA Basketball President and national team managing director Jerry Colangelo said to USA Today.
"It's unfortunate (because) it's been two competitions in a row (that Griffin has missed), but it sounds like a broken record because it happened recently with someone else."
Team USA will open their World Cup campaign in Group C in Bilbao, along with Ukraine, Turkey, New Zealand, the Dominican Republic and Finland.
Despite missing Griffin and Westbrook, the World Cup defending champions are expecting to count with the services of Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose who missed most of the past NBA season through injury.
Mike Krzyzewski, the coach of the USA, remains positive about Rose’s comeback.
"We'd like to see him play like the Derrick of old because he is one of the best players in the world, an MVP in the NBA," Krzyzewski said.
"What we've heard is that he's in great shape.”
The USA squad ahead of the 2014 FIBA World Cup is as follows: Bradley Beal (Washington Wizards); DeMarcus Cousins (Sacramento Kings); Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors); Anthony Davis (New Orleans Pelicans); Andre Drummond (Detroit Pistons); Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City Thunder); Kenneth Faried (Denver Nuggets); Paul George (Indiana Pacers); John Wall (Washington Wizards); James Harden (Houston Rockets); Gordon Hayward (Utah Jazz); Kyrie Irving (Cleveland Cavaliers); Kyle Korver (Atlanta Hawks); Damian Lillard (Portland Trail Blazers); Kevin Love (Minnesota Timberwolves); Derrick Rose (Chicago Bulls); Klay Thompson (Golden State Warriors); DeMar DeRozan (Toronto Raptors); and Chandler Parsons (Dallas Mavericks).