CHICAGO (FIBA Basketball World Cup) - The United States are going to have as much talent as any team at the FIBA Basketball World Cup but Kevin Durant will not among their glittering array of stars.

With just over three weeks before the start of the tournament, the Most Valuable Player of the 2010 FIBA World Championship and 2013-14 NBA season has pulled out of the USA Squad.

In a news release issued by USA Basketball, Durant said: "This was an extremely difficult decision as I take great pride in representing our country.

"I know that I owe it to my USA Basketball teammates to be totally invested in the experience.

"After going through training camp with USAB, I realized I could not fulfill my responsibilities to the team from both a time and energy standpoint.

"I need to take a step back and take some time away, both mentally and physically in order to prepare for the upcoming NBA season.

"I will be rooting for USAB and look forward to future opportunities with them."

Durant is the second big loss for the Americans in less than a week.

Paul George broke his leg in the USA Basketball Showcase.

Coach Mike Krzyzewski will now have James Harden and Anthony Davis as the only players in the squad to have won an Olympic Gold Medal two years ago in London.

"Kevin reached out to Coach K and myself this afternoon (Thursday) and expressed that he is just physically and mentally drained from the NBA season and his attention to his many responsibilities," Colangelo said.

"He tried to give it a go at our recent Las Vegas training camp but felt coming out of camp that he was not prepared to fulfill the commitment he made to the team.

"Coach K and I fully support Kevin. His well being is the most important thing to us and we support him taking the time to get ready for next season.

"He's been part of the national team program for eight years and a big part of the success we have achieved, and we look forward to him being part of our success in the future as well."

One look at the USA players vying for places on the final 12-man roster strongly suggests they will still be the team to beat in Group C, in Bilbao, which also has Finland, Turkey, New Zealand, Ukraine and the Dominican Republic.

In addition to Davis and Harden, the USA have Stephen Curry, Damian Lillard, Chandler Parsons, Mason Plumlee, Andre Drummond, Derrick Rose, DeMarcus Cousins, DeMar De Rozan, Kenneth Faried, Gordon Hayward, Kyrie Irving, Kyle Korver and Klay Thompson.

Parsons, who has been hailed for his versatility, was a late invitee who did extremely well in the Las Vegas camp.

His chances of making the team may have improved with Durant's withdrawal.

Krzyzewski spoke highly of him.

"I think he got better as the week went along," he said.

"Apparently he was not allowed to do much during his time where they were going through his contract.

"So we saw him get better as the week went along.

"He's a great guy. He'd be willing to do anything, and he told me what an honor it is to be a part of this."

FIBA