NBA MVP Steph Curry withdraws from Rio Olympics

Stephen Curry has decided not to make himself available for selection for United States’ basketball team for the upcoming Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

Curry has been battling with a troublesome right knee issue, although it has not prevented him from leading the Golden State Warriors to the NBA Finals, where they lead the Cleveland Cavaliers 2-0 in the best-of-seven series.

Reports surfaced earlier on Monday that Curry was set to pull out of contention to allow his knee to heal.

In a statement published by the Warriors, Curry declared that his recent fitness problems were among “several factors” that led to his decision not to participate.

“After a great deal of internal thought and several discussions with my family, the Warriors and my representatives, I’ve elected to withdraw my name from the list of eligible players on Team USA’s preliminary roster for the 2016 Summer Games in Brazil,” Curry said.

“I recently informed [USA Basketball chairman] Jerry Colangelo of this decision.

“My previous experiences with USA Basketball have been incredibly rewarding, educational and enjoyable, which made this an extremely difficult decision for me and my family.

“However, due to several factors - including recent ankle and knee injuries - I believe this is the best decision for me at this stage of my career.

“It’s an incredible honour to represent your country and wear ‘USA’ on your chest, but my primary basketball-related objective this summer needs to focus on my body and getting ready for the 2016-17 NBA season.”