Another scare for the US Nation Team right after DeMarcus Cousins hurt his right knee during practice last Thursday. It seems like joining the FIBA World Cup is putting a strain to the players.
Cousin had his injury when he got tangled with Anthony Davis. Both players fell on the floor after scrimmaging for the loose ball. Good news is that the MRI on Cousins' knee showed no structural damage, and USA Basketball said the Sacramento Kings star was day to day.
According to the managing director of USA Basketball Jerry Colangelo "He said he got a little scared, obviously, when you go down after we had that prior injury."
New Orleans player Davis said that the incident scared them altogether "Definitely scary, not just the fact that he went down, but the fact that I actually was the one who dove on him. I kind of feel bad and I hope he's fine because he really wants to be here. He really wants to play."
This is the first time the team practiced right after the Paul George incident. Head Coach Colangelo had promise a spot for George once he got back to the court. The team planned on wearing a special shooting shirt for George while others planned on winning the World Cup for him.
George has suffered an open tibia-fibula fracture on his right leg right after he landed on his right leg awkwardly after trying to defend a layup. His bone snaps right above the ankle early in the fourth quarter of the games. The remaining time was cancelled thereafter.
Bulls point guard Derrick Rose said "''The week off that we had, after we saw what happened to Paul, it kind of calmed us down a little bit because right afterwards it was kind of devastating. Put yourself in that position like him - that could have been me - but now that he's had surgery and it seems like he's recovering, our goal is just to come out here and compete for our country."
There were a lot of other players aside from George who withdraw from the team. Durant just recently announced his withdrawal due to stress while others were for health reason and what not including Kevin Love, Blake Griffin and LaMarcus Aldridge.
Colangelo said "It was a surprise, but Kevin is a terrific guy and a terrific USA Basketball guy and he was really despondent about not being able to play. He wanted to, but he found himself in a situation where he had no choice."
