繼Westbrook後又少一人！ James Harden決定退出巴西奧運

繼Russell Westbrook在雷霆官網發表退選聲明之後，「大鬍子」James Harden隨後亦表明將會退出8月舉行的里約熱內盧奧運會。

跟Westbrook一樣，Harden表示這是經過與家人相議的決定：「這是經過和家人，球隊及顧問相議得出的結果。」「顯然這是一個艱難的決定，」他在聲明中表示，「作為2012年倫敦奧運會的金牌團隊的成員，以及2014年FIBA的隊長，對我而言，美國男籃帶給了我人生中最有意義的個人和團隊成就。我一直非常慶幸能夠穿上『紅，白，藍』球衣，代表著世上最偉大的國家與其他偉大的對手抗衡。我衷心希望將來有機會可以再次代表美國國家隊。」

引用"a result of many different conversations with my family, the Rockets, and trusted advisors,"
“This decision was a painstaking one that I did not take lightly," Harden said in a statement. "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. I have been extremely blessed to wear the ‘red, white and blue’ and to compete at the highest level with the greatest players representing the greatest country in the world. I sincerely hope I'll earn an opportunity to represent Team USA again in the future.”

其他球員如Stephen Curry，Anthony Davis，Blake Griffin，John Wall和Chris Paul亦早已選擇退出今屆巴西奧運會，看來當地的治安和衛生環境，的確嚇怕了不少家財萬貫的球星。而帝王中鋒DeMarcus Cousins，則是暫時唯一一名確定會入選美國男籃12人名單的球員。


資料來源： http://www.foxsports.com/nba/story/russell-westbrook-withdraws-usa-basketball-rio-olympics-061016