Trae Young has become the latest big name to withdraw from USA Basketball this summer, but his departure is due to a much more unusual reason.
The Atlanta Hawks guard announced on Thursday “with deep sadness” that he was leaving Team USA minicamp to deal with “a minor injury.”
Thank You @usabasketballpic.twitter.com/yA0VzxwQx6
— Trae Young (@TheTraeYoung) August 8, 2019
Brian Windhorst of ESPN reported that an eye infection was the cause behind Young’s exit.
Trae Young has to leave Team USA camp because of a minor eye infection, sources said. He’d been playing well on the Select Team last few days.
As an aside with De’Aaron Fox already promoted to senior team, I’m looking forward to Select coach Jeff Van Gundy playing some PG today
— Brian Windhorst (@WindhorstESPN) August 8, 2019
The 20-year-old guard, who had a strong chance to make the final cut due to his stellar play combined with Team USA’s lack of backcourt depth, now has about a month-and-a-half to get right before the Hawks begin training camp.
Eye injuries can adversely affect play (as we once saw with another top guard), so it sounds like Young’s decision to withdraw from the team is for the best.
