Posted by Sabrina B. @gametimegirl
LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony and Chris Paul have decided not to play in the World All-Star Classic, according to sources with knowledge of the situation.
This is a big blow to the six-game, four-continent tour that is scheduled to kick off Sunday in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Tour organizer Calvin Darden was hoping to feature the league’s top superstars on the tour, which is also slated to make stops in London, Macau and Melbourne, Australia.
While Kobe Bryant, Dwyane Wade and Amare Stoudemire are still committed to playing, the absence of James, Anthony and Paul could put the entire tour in jeopardy.
Kevin Durant is also wavering on playing in the tour, sources close to tour organizers told ESPN The Magazine’s Ric Bucher.
James, Anthony and Paul made their decisions together after consulting with one another over the past week. The players wanted to use the lockout to spend more time with their families, sources told Broussard.
The trio is somewhat hopeful that an NBA season can begin shortly, sources told Broussard.
Paul is a member of the players union’s executive committee, and a source told Broussard that Paul wanted to be available for any labor meetings that may take place with the owners.
The trio is the second group of players to withdraw from the global tour.
Reigning NBA MVP Derrick Rose and Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook both decided not to make the trips overseas.
Rose confirmed his decision to pull out of the tour before playing in a USO-backed exhibition on Hickam Air Force Base in Hawaii, the first such event featuring active NBA players.
“The scheduling was just too tough,” said Rose, whose USO work will keep him in Hawaii until Friday morning.
Westbrook also opted to withdraw from the global exhibitions, sources close to tour production told Bucher on Tuesday.
WRITTEN BY Chris Broussard is a senior NBA writer for ESPN The Magazine. Information from ESPN The Magazine’s Ric Bucher contributed to this report & FULL STORY HERE
Follow Chris Broussard on Twitter:Â @chris_broussard
