Plenty Of Developments At USA Men’s National Team Training Camp

Las Vegas, Nev. • July 20, 2010

LAS VEGAS, Nev.  (July 20, 2010) – There were plenty of developments with the USA Basketball Men’s National Team during its first training session Tuesday in Las Vegas, Nev.  USA Basketball announced that New York Knicks forward Amar’e Stoudemire and Phoenix Suns center Robin Lopez had withdrawn from the USA National Team’s training camp; that Washington Wizards’ center JaVale McGee had accepted an invitation and was participating in the July 20-24 training camp; and that Golden State Warriors forward David Lee suffered an injured middle finger on his right hand during the team’s opening practice.

Stoudemire was forced to withdraw from the U.S. training camp because of problems insuring his contract with the Knicks.

“It’s definitely a great honor to be back in the midst of USA Basketball, but as of right now, from a New York Knicks standpoint, they want to make sure that I’m totally healthy for next season, and so they made a decision to not allow me to play,” said Stoudemire, a 2004 U.S. Olympian.  “I understand both sides.  I definitely wanted to play.  I understand the New York Knicks’ concern and also wanting to make sure I’m totally healthy for next season … I’m looking forward to having a big year with the Knicks organization, so I understand both sides.”

“We’re disappointed about this mainly because we love Amar’e,” stated USA head coach Mike Krzyzewski. “I mean he’s part of our program so this is disappointing. It takes away one of the really explosive players in the whole world.  There is not going to be a guy that replaces him but (there is) a little bit different way that you play as a result of not having him.”

“Being advised by the Knicks that they were not going to allow Amar’e to play – a little late in the process, be it as it is – he will not be able to play. And he’s disappointed. We’re disappointed. But the team has the right to pull him like they did because of the lack of insurance coverage and his pre-existing injury situations. So, we’ll just move forward,” USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo commented.

The USA squad also received news that second-year Suns’ forward Robin Lopez had withdrawn from the team’s training to continue the rehabilitation of his back, an injury that forced him to miss Phoenix’ last 10 regular season games of 2009-10 and the first 10 Playoffs games.
McGee is participating in his second USA Basketball camp after having been part of the 2009 USA National Team mini-camp.  The 7-0 Wizard center averaged 6.4 ppg., 4.0 rpg. and 1.7 bpg. in 2009-10.

Lee injured the middle finger on his right hand during practice and flew back Tuesday evening to have his hand examined Wednesday morning by Golden State team doctors.  Lee is expected to return to the USA National Team training camp tomorrow afternoon.

USA Basketball is conducting its Men’s National Team training camp July 19-24 in Las Vegas. The camp culminates with the 2010 USA Basketball Showcase, a Blue-White intra-squad game that will be held on Saturday, July 24 at 7 p.m. PDT at the Thomas & Mack Center on the campus of UNLV.