Golden State Warriors superstar guard Stephen Curry will skip the 2016 Olympics in Rio to allow his knee and ankle to heal, announcing his decision Monday in a statement released by the Warriors:
Marcus Thompson of the San Jose Mercury News first reported on Curry's decision to withdraw from the Olympics. He wrote Monday morning, "Curry informed Team USA right before he returned to playoff action that he was opting out of this summer's competition, which begins with a showcase in Las Vegas on July 22."
USA Basketball managing director Jerry Colangelo said he was "disappointed" about Curry's withdrawal but added, "We understand these situations arise, and we are fully supportive of his decision," per Brian Mahoney of the Associated Press.
"As his coach, I'm pleased. He needs rest," Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said on Tuesday, per SI.com's Ben Golliver.
It's a big blow for Team USA, which will have to get by without the NBA's biggest star and the two-time defending MVP. Curry may not be the only star to decline an invitation to Rio, either.
Thompson reported that LeBron James, Russell Westbrook and Andre Iguodala were also considering skipping the Olympics due to fears about the spread of the Zika virus. Chicago Bulls and Spain star Pau Gasol also may not play in the Olympics because of the Zika outbreak.
If Westbrook and James skip the event along with Curry, that would leave the United States without three of the top four vote-getters in this year's MVP balloting.
Curry was voted the first unanimous NBA MVP this season after a dominant campaign that saw him average 30.1 points, 6.7 assists, 5.4 rebounds and 2.1 steals per game.
He set the NBA record for three-point field goals with 402, breaking his own record of 286 from a season ago. According to Marc Stein of ESPN.com, "He also joined Steve Nash and [Kerr], as the only players in league history to shoot at least 50 percent from the floor, 45 percent from three-point range and 90 percent from the line in a season."
Most importantly, he led the Warriors to a 73-9 regular season—another league record—and helped guide the team back to the NBA Finals for a rematch with the Cleveland Cavaliers despite battling injuries throughout the postseason.
His fearlessness to shoot from anywhere on the court, crisp passing and quick drives to the basket make him one of the game's most exciting players. His absence in Rio wouldn't just hurt Team USA; it would make the entire competition less entertaining.
Even without Curry, the United States will be the favorite to win its 15th gold medal in the event. No country has a deeper stable of talent to pull from, and a number of superstars should make the trip even if players like Curry, James and Westbrook take a pass.
Indiana Pacers star Paul George, for instance, has already confirmed he wants to give playing in Rio "a shot," via ESPN.com. He surely won't be alone in that regard, with players like Damian Lillard potentially taking Curry's place on the roster. Nevertheless, the absence of Curry means one of the biggest superstars in the world won't be present at this year's Summer Olympics.
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