MADRID, August 16 (EUROPA PRESS) –

Canadian point guard Jamal Murray, brand new NBA champion with the Denver Nuggets, confirmed on Wednesday that he will miss the World Cup in absolute category, scheduled for August 25 to September 10 in Indonesia, Japan and the Philippines, feeling unable to “compete”. at the highest level” due to a “long and demanding” season.

“When I arrived at training camp I wanted to see how my body would react after a long and demanding season, and if I would be physically capable of competing at the highest level required for the World Cup,” Murray told the official of the Canadian Federation. Basketball media (Canada Basketball).

“In consultation with the medical staff and the team, it is clear that further recovery is needed and I have made the difficult decision not to participate in the tournament. It is still my dream to represent Canada at the Olympics. and I will support the team every step of the way in pursuit of that goal,” he added of his absence.

After a long season in which he won his first NBA ring with Denver, Murray hasn’t been able to recover from the physical issues that have plagued him for some time. For this reason, he will rest this summer, although he plans to return with the national team for the Paris 2024 Olympics.

The ‘Maple Leafs’ are framed in Group H of the impending World Cup and will make their debut against France on August 25; They will also play against Lebanon on the 27th and against Latvia on the 29th. If they reach the second phase, they would be a potential opponent for the Spanish team, the current defending champions.

Murray’s defeat is in addition to other illustrious ones such as that of the Serbian Nikola Jokic, that of the Spaniard Ricky Rubio – MVP of 2019 – and that of the Greek Giannis Antetokounmpo. Nor will there be any shining stars in the United States, who face the World Cup with a group of second-tier players and well-prepared youngsters.