NBA Star James Harden To Miss Basketball World Cup In China

20th July 2019

The former Most Valuable Player stated he wants to spend off-season preparing to play with a new-look Houston Rockets

James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets participates in warmups prior to a game against the Milwaukee Bucks at Fiserv Forum on March 26, 2019 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. PHOTO/GETTY IMAGES
James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets participates in warmups prior to a game against the Milwaukee Bucks at Fiserv Forum on March 26, 2019 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. PHOTO/GETTY IMAGES
SUMMARY
  • Harden, speaking at a charity event, told the newspaper he wants to spend the rest of the NBA off-season preparing to play with a new-look Rockets, who acquired Oklahoma City Thunder star Russell Westbrook in a trade for Chris Paul this month
  • Houston's Eric Gordon and P.J. Tucker are currently slated to play for the USA

LOS ANGELES, United States- Houston Rockets star James Harden is opting out of the basketball World Cup in China, the Houston Chronicle reported on Friday.

Harden, speaking at a charity event, told the newspaper he wants to spend the rest of the NBA off-season preparing to play with a new-look Rockets, who acquired Oklahoma City Thunder star Russell Westbrook in a trade for Chris Paul this month.

Houston's Eric Gordon and P.J. Tucker are currently slated to play for the USA, which will hold a training camp in Las Vegas August 5-9 before the World Cup begins in China on August 31.

READ ALSO: Milwaukee Bucks Star Antetokounmpo Beats Harden To NBA MVP Crown

Harden's decision comes days after news broke that Anthony Davis -- the former New Orleans Pelicans star who just signed to team with LeBron James at the Los Angeles Lakers -- had withdrawn from consideration for the US World Cup team that will be coached by San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich.