Toronto Raptors point guard Kyle Lowry is planning to meet his doctors during the next few days and hoping to practice with USA Basketball for Team USA's upcoming workouts in Los Angeles next week, according to Tim Reynolds of The Associated Press. Lowry has been hoping to take part in the upcoming World Cup competition, as one of the original players named to the 20-man preliminary list.
A total of 14 of those 20 players have now withdrawn commitment from consideration, the latest being New York Knicks forward Julius Randle. Others who were hoped to take part on the Select Team that will scrimmage against the senior squad, have dropped out as well, including notables like No. 1 pick Zion Williamson and Landry Shamet, both nursing injuries.
Lowry is among only two players who took part in Team USA's last victory at the world level, as they beat Serbia in the gold medal game of the Rio 2016 Olympics. The Raptors floor general and Harrison Barnes are the only common names that have survived from that roster, as several members from that team have either aged into their latter NBA years or were left out of consideration.
Lowry, 33, if cleared to play; is likely to be the last vestige of that gold-medal-winning 2016 team, and an important leadership cog for a very young team. While Kemba Walker is likely to win the starting spot, Lowry could see valuable minutes behind him, along with plenty of moments to teach, as one of the oldest players in this roster.
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