Brook Lopez has withdrawn his name from the Team USA pool or players hoping to attend the World Championships in Turkey later this month due to a battle with mononucleosis, according to a Team USA press release.
Last month, Brook’s brother Robin also withdrew his name from consideration due to a back problem.
JaVale McGee, who was one of the first four cuts made by Jerry Colangelo, was re-added to the New York roster. McGee, as well as Gerald Wallace, O.J. Mayo and Tyreke Evans, were all cut last week but remain in the pool of players in the event that someone withdrew. Lopez did and McGee will take his place on the New York roster.
Losing Lopez will undoubtedly add more fuel to the fire to those who believe Team USA is lacking size, but during the Las Vegas training camp, Lopez did not look good at all. Whether it was his health or a bad mix between his game and the international style of play, Brook was out of position most of the time and was slowing moving up and down the court.
Tyson Chandler was the clear favorite to anchor the center position in Turkey for the United States once the Las Vegas training camp concluded and losing Lopez pretty much sets that in stone.
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