WASHINGTON, July 19 (Xinhua) -- Houston Rockets All-Star guard James Harden has decided to withdraw from the FIBA Men's World Cup to be held in China, local media reported on Friday.
Speaking at an event donating shoes and other sporting goods in Houston, Harden said he wanted to spend the remainder of the offseason to focus on "preparing for changes with the Rockets".
Houston recently acquired Russell Westbrook in a trade with the Oklahoma City Thunder. The move reunites Westbrook and Harden, who played three seasons together in Oklahoma City from 2009-12.
Harden was one of 20 players USA Basketball selected to attend training camp in Las Vegas from Aug. 5-9. Rockets teammates P.J. Tucker and Eric Gordon are both scheduled to participate in the training camp. The final 12-man roster will be determined on Aug. 17.
Anthony Davis, who's earlier joined the Los Angeles Lakers this week, also decided to skip World Cup to prepare for his first season with the team.
Harden has previously played for the 2012 USA Basketball Olympic team and 2014 World Cup team.
The Men's World Cup will be running from Aug. 31-Sept. 15 in China.
