by Chris TomassonFiled under: Knicks, USA Basketball
LAS VEGAS -- Amar'e Stoudemire is the latest big name to be off Team USA.USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo confirmed before the team's first practice here Tuesday in preparation for next month's World Championships in Turkey that the New York star big man will not play due to the inability of the Knicks to have insurance to cover him in international play.
Colangelo said Phoenix big man Robin Lopez also has dropped due to wanting to continue to rehabilitate a back injury that hampered him late last season.
Team USA already has lost all its members from the 2008 gold-winning Olympic team. And in the past week it has lost big men LaMarcus Aldridge and Al Jefferson, who were expected to train in Las Vegas. Team USA has added Washington Wizards big man JaVale McGee for some additional depth, meaning there are 20 players battling for 12 spots in Turkey.