LOS ANGELES - Houston Rockets star James Harden is opting out of the FIBA Basketball World Cup in China, the Houston Chronicle reported on Friday.
Harden, speaking at a charity event, told the newspaper he wants to spend the rest of the NBA offseason preparing to play with a new-look Rockets.
Houston’s Eric Gordon and P.J. Tucker are currently slated to play for the United States.
Harden’s decision comes days after news broke that Anthony Davis, who recently joined the Los Angeles Lakers, had withdrawn from consideration for the U.S. World Cup team.