Durant withdraws from Team USA

[Eddie20]

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/eye-on-basketball/24652027/kevin-durant-withdraws-from-team-usa-wont-play-in-fiba-world-cup

"Kevin reached out to Coach K and myself this afternoon and expressed that he is just physically and mentally drained from the NBA season and his attention to his many responsibilities," USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo said in a statement. "He tried to give it a go at our recent Las Vegas training camp but felt coming out of camp that he was not prepared to fulfill the commitment he made to the team. Coach K and I fully support Kevin. His well being is the most important thing to us and we support him taking the time to get ready for next season. He's been part of the National Team program for eight years and a big part of the success we have achieved, and we look forward to him being part of our success in the future as well."

[Jiri Welsch]

After George's injury, Cuban's comments, Durant's withdrawal from play...

It sure seems international competition is fast returning to the "doesn't matter that much" category.

[Ogaju]

What did Cuban say.

[Jiri Welsch]

Paraphrasing, but... The most impressive thing the Olympics ever did was convince people the games were about nationalism and not money.

He then intimated a World Cup style, once every four years, tournament would be better suited.

http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2014/8/3/5964393/mark-cuban-blasts-international-basketball

"The [International Olympic Committee] is playing the NBA," Cuban said. "The IOC is an organization that has been rife with corruption, to the point where a member was accused of trying to fix an Olympic event in Salt Lake. The IOC [pulls in] billions of dollars. They make a killing and make Tony Soprano look like a saint.

"The greatest trick ever played was the IOC convincing the world that the Olympics were about patriotism and national pride instead of money. The players and owners should get together and create our own World Cup of Basketball."

[Vox_Populi]

I'm not surprised Durant pulled out, I just wonder why he waited this long.

[The Rondo Show]

[crimson_stallion]

Typical that Durant was the first to pull out.  He's always been soft and always been a girl scout.

[Ogaju]

Paraphrasing, but... The most impressive thing the Olympics ever did was convince people the games were about nationalism and not money.

He then intimated a World Cup style, once every four years, tournament would be better suited.

http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2014/8/3/5964393/mark-cuban-blasts-international-basketball

"The [International Olympic Committee] is playing the NBA," Cuban said. "The IOC is an organization that has been rife with corruption, to the point where a member was accused of trying to fix an Olympic event in Salt Lake. The IOC [pulls in] billions of dollars. They make a killing and make Tony Soprano look like a saint.

"The greatest trick ever played was the IOC convincing the world that the Olympics were about patriotism and national pride instead of money. The players and owners should get together and create our own World Cup of Basketball."

Olympics screwed the pooch when they allowed these fat cow pros into the games to begin with. Get the pros out of the Olympics, good riddance to bad rubbish I say.

[The Rondo Show]

Typical that Durant was the first to pull out.  He's always been soft and always been a girl scout.

What Durant have you been watching

[Ogaju]

Bad move by Durant. This is why these spoiled pro athletes should NEVER use war analogies to describe what they do. He is too 'tired' to play for his country.

This is why we must salute the military who have to take multiple deployments to terrible war zones for months at a time away from family in brutal conditions.

[D.o.s.]

Bad move by Durant. This is why these spoiled pro athletes should NEVER use war analogies to describe what they do. He is too 'tired' to play for his country.

This is why we must salute the military who have to take multiple deployments to terrible war zones for months at a time away from family in brutal conditions.

"Have to take?" Voluntary service would say otherwise. A crappy job is a crappy job, but Cuban's 'greatest trick ever played' comment about the IOC applies pretty evenly to military service, too.

On the other hand, the Olympics have never really mattered for basketball, aside from The Dream Team. Its just not the sport's biggest stage.

[fitzhickey]

Typical that Durant was the first to pull out.  He's always been soft and always been a girl scout.

Is this serious