Stephen Curry will not play in the Rio Olympics for several reasons, including recent knee and ankle injuries, he said in a statement Monday.
Curry said he recently told USA Basketball’s Jerry Colangelo of this decision. The Olympic team has not been named yet, but the reigning NBA MVP Curry was certainly a favorite to make it.
“After a great deal of internal thought and several discussions with my family, the Warriors and my representatives, I’ve elected to withdraw my name,” Curry said in the statement. “My previous experiences with USA Basketball have been incredibly rewarding, educational and enjoyable, which made this an extremely difficult decision for me and my family. However, due to several factors – including recent ankle and knee injuries – I believe this is the best decision for me at this stage of my career. It’s an incredible honor to represent your country and wear ‘USA’ on your chest, but my primary basketball-related objective this summer needs to focus on my body and getting ready for the 2016-17 NBA season.”
On Saturday, Curry said he had not decided whether he wanted to play in the Olympics, according to NBA.com.
“I have no idea,” Curry said Saturday, according to NBA.com. “I’m still in the pool and still the goal is to be on the Olympic team if that’s the right decision for me. I am leaving myself a little bit of room just because I don’t know what it’s going to be like. But in a couple weeks I’ll know for sure.”
Curry sprained his right MCL in April and has played every playoff game since May 9. He and the Warriors are up 2-0 in their Finals series with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
A Monday report also said LeBron James and Russell Westbrook are considering withdrawing their names from Olympic consideration before the 12-man Rio roster is named, but that Warriors forward Draymond Green is keen on playing. James has previously not fully committed to competing in Rio.
Curry won gold with the U.S. at the 2010 and 2014 FIBA World Cups but was not among 20 finalists for the 2012 Olympic team.
Westbrook is the only point guard with Olympic experience still available for the Olympic team, which is starting to get thin at point guard options.
