Steph Curry skipping Olympics
2-time NBA MVP cites ankle, knee injuries as reasons for withdrawing
The United States will have to defend its Olympic men's basketball gold medal without the help of Steph Curry.
The winner of the last two NBA MVP awards said Monday he will not compete at the upcoming Olympics in Rio, citing recent ankle and knee injuries among "several factors" leading him to withdraw.
Curry is the highest-profile absence for the two-time defending gold medallists, who will already be without NBA all-stars Chris Paul and Anthony Davis.
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.
Some of Curry's Golden State teammates are reportedly weighing their Olympic options as well. Andre Iguodala, who won gold with the U.S. at the 2012 Games in London, is monitoring the Zika virus situation, according to a report by the Mercury News, while Draymond Green will reportedly compete in Rio if invited.
The Warriors currently lead the Cleveland Cavaliers 2-0 in the NBA Finals. Curry, who has missed time in the playoffs due to knee and ankle injuries, is averaging just under 25 points per game in the post-season for the defending champions.
Curry has won a pair of world titles with the Americans and was a starter when they won the 2014 Basketball World Cup.
"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 in a statement. "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."
With files from The Associated Press