Brook Lopez had a tough season with the New Jersey Nets winning only 12 games then when the season was over, he got mononucleosis and dropped 25 pounds. Still feeling the effects of the illness, Lopez still attended Team USA tryouts and made it through to the final cuts, but today he withdrew his name for consideration on the team citing his own lack of conditioning to continue with the team.
“Although it will be disappointing not to see Brook compete in the upcoming FIBA World Championship, the Nets fully support his decision to stop training with Team USA,” Nets general manager Billy King said in a statement. “Brook obviously felt that he had not made sufficient enough recovery from his bout with mononucleosis earlier this summer, but we feel confident he will be fully recovered by the start of training camp on September 25.”
Washington’s JaVale McGee will replace Lopez on Team USA, which resumes training in Manhattan Tuesday. McGee and Tyson Chandler are the team’s only centers.
