Team USA’s minicamp begins next week in Las Vegas as one of the first official steps in the squad’s preparation for the 2019 FIBA World Cup. Thirty-five NBA players have been invited to the event, but it seems another name on that list is unlikely to attend come next week.
According to ESPN’s Chris Haynes, Golden State Warriors star guard Stephen Curry will miss the minicamp to spend time with his family:
Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry will not be in attendance for Team USA’s minicamp next week in Las Vegas, league sources tell ESPN.
The two-time NBA MVP, according to sources, will be spending time with his family, including his newborn son. The minicamp will be held July 25-27 at UNLV’s Mendenhall Center.
On Monday, ESPN’s Dave McMenamin reported LeBron James also would be absent from camp.
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Curry and James will not be eliminated from consideration.
The 6-foot-3 Curry was a part of World Cup championship teams in 2010 and 2014. He’s almost a month removed from helping the Warriors win their third NBA championship in the past four years.
Via Twitter, Turner Sports’ David Aldridge reports that Curry’s teammate, Kevin Durant, will be at the Team USA minicamp.
Earlier Tuesday, ESPN also reported that San Antonio Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard was thinking about attending the mini-camp. He demanded a trade from the team earlier this summer and remains in the thick of much of the offseason chatter. Early Wednesday, talk circulated that Leonard could soon be dealt to the Toronto as part of a trade involving Raptors star guard (and fellow Team USA minicamp invitee) DeMar DeRozan.
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich will head up the minicamp in Vegas.
