Kyle Kuzma of the Los Angeles Lakers will not play for Team USA in the upcoming FIBA World Cup after it was determined that his left ankle injury would prevent him from participating, USA Basketball announced Saturday.
With the loss of Kuzma, the USA Basketball roster is now finalized with 12 players.
The official team roster, coached by Gregg Popovich, will include Harrison Barnes (Sacramento Kings), Jaylen Brown (Boston Celtics), Joe Harris (Brooklyn Nets), Brook Lopez (Milwaukee Bucks), Khris Middleton (Bucks), Donovan Mitchell (Utah Jazz), Mason Plumlee (Denver Nuggets), Marcus Smart (Celtics), Jayson Tatum (Celtics), Myles Turner (Indiana Pacers), Kemba Walker (Celtics) and Derrick White (San Antonio Spurs).
Because of the sore ankle, Kuzma did not play in Saturday’s 98-94 exhibition loss to Australia, which snapped a 78-game international winning streak by Team USA over a span of nearly 13 years.
He had scored 12 points in Team USA’s win against Australia on Thursday, knocking down three 3-pointers.
White is recovering after a hard fall Saturday that required him to get four stitches over his left eye. The team, however, did get a boost with the return of Smart, who missed three weeks with a calf injury.
The FIBA World Cup begins Aug. 31 in Shanghai, China. Team USA opens against the Czech Republic next Saturday.
Team USA is looking to pull off a FIBA World Cup three-peat, which has never been done in the 69-year history of the event.
Courtesy: ESPN.com
