The greatest players from the National Basketball Association (NBA) completed USA Basketball's (USAB) 34-man list of attendees for the Las Vegas minicamp next month but one of the league's brightest stars in Chicago Bulls point guard Derrick Rose will not be going.
Earlier reports said Rose was deciding if he would attend the camp or take a rest before the Bulls begin training camp in September.
USAB managing director Jerry Colangelo already said attendance is mandatory for players aiming to be part of the selection pool for the 12-man roster that will play in the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Participation in the camp is not necessary, especially since other players who are on the list are recovering from injury. What matters is their attendance in the camp since for Colangelo, it shows commitment to the program.
Rose is one of the most experienced players who already played for Team USA in the past, being part of the national squads that won gold medals in the 2010 and 2014 FIBA World Cup.
Despite his non-attendance in next month's camp, Sam Smith of Bulls.com said Rose could still make it to Team USA.
"If Rose were again to have an MVP-like season he presumably could be added to the team. Colangelo always has said extra consideration would be given to players who previously have participated with USA Basketball, that those players have built up equity with the program," Smith wrote.
Rose showed flashes of his former MVP self in the 2014–15 season despite getting injured again.
Last season Rose returned and got hurt but still helped Chicago reach as far as the second-round of the playoffs before being eliminated by the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Rose played in 51 regular season games and averaged 17.7 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per outing.
In their playoff campaign, he improved his performance in 12 games played averaging 20.3 points, 4.8 rebounds, 6.5 assists, and 1.2 steals per game.
It was also last season when Rose fully returned, with fans finally seeing a complete Bulls team after a long time since injuries started to slow him down following the 2011–12 season.
