The U.S. men’s national team trimmed its roster to 16 players Tuesday by cutting Washington’s John Wall and Bradley Beal, and Atlanta’s Paul Millsap.
The Americans are off this week after training last week in Las Vegas, where Indiana All-Star Paul George was lost to a broken right leg. They will resume practice for the World Cup of Basketball on Aug. 14 in Chicago.
Players remaining who hope to make the final 12-man roster for Spain are Oklahoma City’s Kevin Durant, Chicago’s Derrick Rose, Cleveland’s Kyrie Irving, New Orleans’ Anthony Davis, Golden State’s Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, Houston’s James Harden, Atlanta’s Kyle Korver, Sacramento’s DeMarcus Cousins, Dallas’ Chandler Parsons, Utah’s Gordon Hayward, Toronto’s DeMar DeRozan, Portland’s Damian Lillard, Denver’s Kenneth Faried, Detroit’s Andre Drummond and Brooklyn’s Mason Plumlee.
“Really all 16 guys have a chance to make the team, which usually does not happen in a training camp, and it shows that all of the guys thus far have done an excellent job,” coach Mike Krzyzewski said in a release announcing the roster.
George would have been on the team but was injured when his leg crashed into the bottom of the basket stanchion after trying to block a shot during the Americans’ intrasquad exhibition game Friday night in Las Vegas. He had surgery early Saturday and was expected to return to Indiana this week.