HOUSTON – Rockets guard James Harden announced Friday he will not be competing for Team USA at the Olympic Games in Rio later this summer.
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“As a result of many difficult conversations with my family, the Rockets, and trusted advisors, I've notified Jerry Colangelo and Team USA that I will not be competing at the 2016 Olympic Summer Games in Brazil," Harden said in a statement.
"This decision was a painstaking one that I did not take lightly. As a member of the 2012 London Olympic Gold Medal Team, and as Team Captain for the 2014 FIBA Gold Medal Team, it goes without saying that USA Basketball has provided me with some of the most meaningful personal and professional accomplishments of my life," Harden added.
Harden averaged 5.5 points in 9.1 minutes per game in 8 contests for for the gold medal winning Team USA in the 2012 Olympics in London.
"I have been extremely blessed to wear the "red, white, and blue" and to compete at the highest international level with the greatest players representing the greatest country in the world," Harden said.
I sincerely hope I'll earn an opportunity to represent Team USA again in the future.”