Another NBA star will not participate in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023.
Jamal Murray announced on Wednesday evening that he will not be suiting up for Canada in the global tournament, which is set to begin on August 25.
This decision comes a week after his Denver teammate, Nikola Jokic, also chose not to take part in the World Cup for Serbia.
The 6-foot-4 Canadian guard cited the wear and tear of the NBA season as the reason for his choice to sit out of the tournament.
“When I entered training camp, I wanted to assess how my body would respond after a long and demanding season, and whether I could physically perform at the level required for the World Cup,” read Murray’s statement.
“After consulting with the medical staff and the team, it’s evident that I need additional recovery time, and I have made the difficult decision not to participate in the tournament. Representing Canada in the Olympics remains a dream of mine, and I will support the team at every stage as they pursue this goal.”
The last time Murray suited up for Team Canada was back in the 2015 Pan-American Games.
The Canadian team has been engaging in high-quality tune-up matches leading up to the World Cup.
They began their three-week preparation with a loss to Germany, 86-81.
In the Basketball Supercup held in Hamburg, Canada achieved a 2-0 record, securing victories against New Zealand and Germany.
Canada will also take part in the Torneo Ciudad de Granada in Spain, where they will face the host team and the Dominican Republic.
Team Canada is placed in Group H alongside France, Lebanon, and Latvia.
Canada is aiming to surpass its 21st-place finish in 2019.
