Westbrook rules himself out of U.S. World Cup team

(Reuters) - Dynamic guard Russell Westbrook, citing rest as his top priority, has declared himself unavailable for the United States basketball team at this year's World Cup in Spain. Westbrook, 25, who won gold medals on the U.S. team at the 2010 World Championship and 2012 Olympics Games, missed almost half of last season with the National Basketball Association's Oklahoma City Thunder because of knee injuries. "I have received confirmation from Russell that he will not be participating in this summer's USA Basketball Men's National Team training and the World Cup due to his need to rest," USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo said in a statement Tuesday.

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