Zion withdraws name from FIBA World Cup with Team USA

New Orleans Pelicans phenom and 2019 first overall pick Zion Williamson has withdrawn his name from FIBA World Cup training with Team USA, director Jerry Colangelo told The Athletic's Shams Charania.

The Pelicans are focused on integrating Williamson into the squad this summer as quickly as possible, and USA Basketball has a backup pool of players to invite if needed, Charania adds.

Williamson was reportedly invited to camp as a member of USA Basketball's Select Team - a selection of 10 up-and-coming players who compete for a potential spot on the main World Cup squad. Los Angeles Clippers guard Landry Shamet was another reported invitee to the Select Team.

USA Basketball has already lost James Harden and Anthony Davis, among others, from its 20-man list of stars invited earlier this summer.

Despite the spurned invitations, guard Kemba Walker and forward Khris Middleton are expected to remain committed to the national team, sources told The New York Times' Marc Stein. Houston Rockets forward P.J. Tucker is also expected to attend training camp in August, according to the Houston Chronicle's Jonathan Feigen.