In a surprising move, Sacramento Kings point guard De’Aaron Fox has withdrawn from Team USA, managing director Jerry Colangelo told ESPN on Saturday.
The decision comes just hours before the group was scheduled to fly to Australia for exhibition games leading up to the FIBA World Cup in China.
Fox played a team-low six minutes in Friday night’s exhibition victory over Spain in Anaheim, California. He was a strong candidate to make the roster because he’d played so well over the last two weeks in practices and scrimmages.
Fox had been moved up from the Select Team during training camp and appeared to have solidified his role as a backup to starter Kemba Walker.
His decision will likely mean Derrick White, who plays for head coach Gregg Popovich’s San Antonio Spurs, will make the final roster as the team is now carrying just 13 players as it goes overseas.
Fox’s departure come one day after Houston Rockets forward P.J. Tucker left Team USA, citing a minor left ankle issue.