Clippers’ Blake Griffin withdraws from USA Basketball team
Clippers All-Star power forward Blake Griffin has decided to pull out of the USA Basketball national team, the team announced on Thursday.
Griffin was one of 19 players who was chosen to try out for the USA team that was going to play in the FIBA World Cup of Basketball next month in Spain.
“Right now, I want to focus and dedicate 100 percent of my energy on improving and preparing for the upcoming season with the Clippers,” Griffin said in a statement.
Griffin played in 80 regular-season games last season for the Clippers, averaging a career-high 24.1 points and 9.5 rebounds.
He helped the Clippers reach the second round of the Western Conference playoffs, where Los Angeles lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Griffin averaged 23.5 points, 7.4 rebounds and 36.8 minutes in the playoffs. The averages for points and minutes were best on the team.
Griffin is in Los Angeles working out for the upcoming season with the Clippers.
Follow Broderick Turner on Twitter: @BA_Turner
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