Canada Basketball announced Wednesday that it’ll be without Jamal Murray for the upcoming FIBA World Cup.
“When I came into training camp, I wanted to see how my body would respond after a long and demanding season and if I would be physically able to compete at the highest level required for the World Cup,” Murray said in a statement.
“In consultation with medical staff and the team, it is clear that additional recovery is required, and I have made the difficult decision to not participate in the tournament. It’s still a dream of mine to represent Canada at the Olympics, and I will support the team every step of the way as they pursue this goal.”
The Denver Nuggets star was named to Canada’s training camp roster in July and practiced with his countrymen earlier in August.
However, Murray didn’t travel with the national squad when it left for a pair of pre-World Cup exhibition events.
Murray’s absence is the latest blow in Canada’s World Cup hopes. The nation is already without Golden State Warriors guard Cory Joseph and Boston Celtics forward Oshae Brissett.
Canada faces defending World Cup champion Spain and the Dominican Republic this week in its final tune-up games.
The Canadians begin World Cup play on Aug. 25 against France.
The top two teams from the Americas at the World Cup will earn an automatic berth into next year’s Olympics in Paris.
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