Ball Durham
Fansided

RJ Barrett removes himself from FIBA World Cup roster due to injury

By Kevin Connelly

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 20: NBA Prospect RJ Barrett looks on before the start of the 2019 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center on June 20, 2019 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. 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 Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 20: NBA Prospect RJ Barrett looks on before the start of the 2019 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center on June 20, 2019 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. 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 Sarah Stier/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

The former Duke Basketball star, R.J. Barrett, will not take the floor prior to New York Knicks Training Camp as he removed himself from the FIBA World Cup roster due to a calf strain.

A week after the news broke that Zion Williamson would not attend Team USA Training Camp for the FIBA World Cup, Shams Charania of The Athletic reported that R.J. Barrett also will not be playing in the World Cup this summer.

Charania reports that Barrett suffered a mild calf strain during the NBA Las Vegas Summer League  in July and that he opted not to risk the injury playing for Team Canada.

More from Ball Durham

While Barrett will not be on the floor for the Canadians, he will still be at the country’s training camp as the Mississauga native is one of the most decorated Team Canada players at his young age.

R.J. Barrett was named the MVP of the FIBA U-19 World Championships in 2017 as Team Canada won the gold medal after 38 points, 13 rebounds, and five assists from Barrett in the semi-finals in a 99-87 win over Team USA.

The No. 3 pick in the 2019 NBA Draft of the New York Knicks also led the Canadians to a silver medal in the FIBA U-16 Championships in 2015.

After missing out on the prized free agents of the 2019 offseason, R.J. Barrett will look to shoulder the load and lead the New York Knicks back to relevance in the Big Apple during his rookie season.

As two of Duke’s youngest up and coming stars will not participate in the FIBA World Cup, former Blue Devils Jayson Tatum and Mason Plumlee will be trying to make the American roster at the USA’s training camp in mid-August.

The FIBA World Cup starts on August 31 and will run through September 15 in the host country of China.

Home/Duke Basketball