Following the example of many of the league’s stars, Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum opted to not participate in this year’s Team USA training camp leading up to the 2019 FIBA World Cup. This leaves the Portland Trail Blazers without any representatives in one of the world’s biggest basketball tournaments.
They join an accomplished list of players including Anthony Davis, James Harden and Bradley Beal in their decision to focus on the upcoming NBA season. Paul George’s tragic leg injury in the 2014 Team USA exhibition game likely swayed the decision-making process of this year’s crop of stars.