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Zion Williamson will not compete for Team USA this summer

By Kevin Connelly

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JULY 14: Zion Williamson #1 of the New Orleans Pelicans warms up on the court before a semifinal game of the 2019 NBA Summer League against the Memphis Grizzlies at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 14, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JULY 14: Zion Williamson #1 of the New Orleans Pelicans warms up on the court before a semifinal game of the 2019 NBA Summer League against the Memphis Grizzlies at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 14, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /
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The former Duke Basketball star, Zion Williamson, will not be participating for Team USA this summer as he will focus on his upcoming rookie season with the New Orleans Pelicans.

The anticipation building over whether or not Zion Williamson would be participating with Team USA this summer has been put to bed.

Shams Charania of The Athletic reported on Monday that Jerry Colangelo told him the No. 1 overall pick has withdrawn from the USA Basketball Select Team.

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Team USA will be participating in the FIBA World Cup in China in August.

It has been reported that Williamson wants to focus solely on his upcoming rookie season with the New Orleans Pelicans and put all of his attention in to helping New Orleans reach its goals this season.

After one of the best seasons ever at Duke, Zion Williamson was the No. 1 overall pick of the New Orleans Pelicans at the 2019 NBA Draft at the end of June.

Prior to the draft, his college coach, Mike Krzyzewski said that he was excited for Gregg Popovich, the new head coach of USA Basketball to work with Zion during the teams training camp.

Coach K also said last week that he thinks Williamson should not have played in the NBA Summer League because he was not in playing shape. Zion only played nine minutes for the Pelicans after suffering a knee bruise in the first half of his first game.

At Duke, the consensus All-American and National Player of the Year averaged 22.6 points, 8.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 2.1 steals, and 1.9 blocks per game while shooting 68.0% from the floor and an always improving 33.8% from 3-point range.

Williamson is not the first player to withdraw from the Team USA Select Camp, and he might not be the last.

Just in the last few days Anthony Davis, James Harden, CJ McCollum, Bradley Beal, and Tobias Harris all withdrew their names, but former Blue Devil Jayson Tatum is still scheduled to attend the camp.

Team USA must select its 12-man roster by August 17 before the FIBA World Cup starts on August 31. The training camp will be held in Las Vegas from August 5-8.

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