appConfigEntityId

bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

hooksArticlePageAdvertisementConfigArticle

liveArticle

appConfig

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

paywallTypes

createdDate

publishedDate

sponsorType

urlAlias

moreOnThisArticles

sectionsV2

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

articleSpeeches

socialHeadline

headline

images

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

sponsor

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

json

Associated Press

Stephen Curry has withdrawn from consideration from the Olympics, leaving the US basketball team without the NBA’s MVP.
Curry said in a statement that he has decided to pull out for “several factors – including recent ankle and knee injuries.”
He didn’t say what the other factors were that he referenced. Several athletes have expressed concerns about the water situation in Rio and the Zika virus.
The guard is the highest-profile absence for the two-time defending gold medalists, who will already be without NBA All-Stars Chris Paul and Anthony Davis.
Curry has won a pair of world titles with the Americans and was a starter when they won the 2014 Basketball World Cup. He had spoken of wanting the chance to win Olympic gold, but missed six games in the postseason with a right knee injury.
“My previous experiences with USA Basketball have been incredibly rewarding, educational and enjoyable, which made this an extremely difficult decision for me and my family,” Curry said.
“However, due to several factors – including recent ankle and knee injuries – I believe this is the best decision for me at this stage of my career.”

Curry said he had spoken with his family, the Warriors and his representatives, and recently informed USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo that he would not go to Brazil.
“Obviously we are disappointed that Steph will not be available this summer, but we understand these situations arise and we are fully supportive of his decision,” Colangelo said.
Curry’s decision to withdraw was first reported by the Mercury News.
The Americans have a list of 31 players in their roster pool for this summer – and plan to name their 12-man roster later this month.
Curry, the first player to be voted a unanimous MVP and the league’s leading scorer, certainly would have been on it. He started all nine games for the Americans in Spain, averaging 10.7 points, and his USA Basketball experience dates to when he played for the under-19 team in 2007 that won a silver medal.
He could have been the team’s biggest star in Rio, with Kobe Bryant retired and LeBron James still uncommitted. But Curry decided it’s more important that he rest, following a demanding regular season in which the Warriors set the NBA record with 73 victories, and a postseason run that’s included ankle and elbow injuries on top of the sprained knee.

“It’s an incredible honour to represent your country and wear ‘USA’ on your chest, but my primary basketball-related objective this summer needs to focus on my body and getting ready for the 2016-17 NBA season,” Curry said.
The Warriors, who have a 2-0 lead over Cleveland in the NBA Finals, could still have a strong presence at the Olympics. Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, Andre Iguodala and Harrison Barnes remain candidates for the US team, while Andrew Bogut (Australia), Anderson Varejao and Leandro Barbosa (Brazil) and Festus Ezeli (Nigeria) are on the rosters of their countries.
Paul, who won two golds with the US, had already opted not to play this time, and fellow point guards John Wall of Washington and Mike Conley of Memphis are coming off injuries. The Americans still have Oklahoma City’s Russell Westbrook, Cleveland’s Kyrie Irving and Portland’s Damian Lillard as possibilities at the position.

But Curry likely would have started either ahead of them or alongside one in the U.S. backcourt, as he did as the shooting guard next to Irving in 2014. He made 43.8 per cent of his attempts then from the shorter international 3-point arc, and the Americans will miss his shooting against the zone defences they face.
Colangelo said he had been in contact with Curry since his injuries and was aware the decision to withdraw was possible.
“Steph has always represented his country in an exemplary manner, and we are sorry that he won’t be able to be with us this summer,” Colangelo said.
Curry will miss the chance to play for the Americans in his home arena, as the US will play China in an exhibition game at Oracle Arena in July.


Tsunami-hit Tonga’s oiled-up Olympic flag bearer Pita Taufatofua raises over US$340,000 in disaster aid

Former Chinese volleyball star Wei Qiuyue donates Olympic gold medal to country’s sports museum

Liu Xiaotong retires: Chinese Olympic volleyball champion to become a coach, saying ‘the thing I missed most was my passion’

Rio 2016 race walk champion Liu Hong retires after fourth place in National Games

Rio 2016 Olympic Games

Olympics loses a major star as Stephen Curry opts out of US basketball team

Stephen Curry wants to rest. Photo: AFP

OAKLAND, CA - JUNE 05: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors warms up prior to Game 2 of the 2016 NBA Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers at ORACLE Arena on June 5, 2016 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Ronald Martinez/Getty Images/AFP == FOR NEWSPAPERS, INTERNET, TELCOS & TELEVISION USE ONLY ==

OAKLAND, CA - JUNE 05: Stephen Curry #30 and Ian Clark #21 of the Golden State Warriors react on the bench during Game 2 of the 2016 NBA Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers at ORACLE Arena on June 5, 2016 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Ezra Shaw/Getty Images/AFP == FOR NEWSPAPERS, INTERNET, TELCOS & TELEVISION USE ONLY ==

epa05343085 Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (R) goes for a loose ball against Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (L) during the first half of the NBA Finals basketball game one between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Golden State Warriors at the Oracle Arena in Oakland, California, USA, 02 June 2016. EPA/JOHN G. MABANGLO CORBIS OUT

Sport

Other Sport

NBA MVP cites injuries ‘among other reasons’ amid Zika fears


Olympics loses a major star as Stephen Curry opts out of US basketball team

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}NBA MVP cites injuries ‘among other reasons’ amid Zika fears

NBA MVP cites injuries ‘among other reasons’ amid Zika fears