All the NBA stars bailing on Team USA — and who’s left

The USA team headed to Australia — and later the World Cup — is anything but a Dream Team after a swag of high-profile exits.

James Harden, Anthony Davis and Damian Lillard.

This isn’t your uncle’s Dream Team. It’s barely a lower case dream team.

After a wave of NBA superstars in recent days have quit the USA team that’s headed to China for the FIBA World Cup in September, Gregg Popovich will try to steer a squad of mostly young, fringe-level All-Stars to international gold.

The likes of LeBron James, Kawhi Leonard, Stephen Curry, Russell Westbrook and Jimmy Butler were never signed up for this Team USA in the first place. Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson are recovering from major injuries suffered during the NBA Finals, Paul George from off-season shoulder surgery.

This month has delivered a round of prominent departures from the initial 20-man roster. Why are these NBA players withdrawing from Team USA?

Anthony Davis removed his name from consideration “to prepare for a championship run” with the new-look Lakers, Yahoo Sports reported on July 14.

James Harden withdrew to focus on preparing for the upcoming Rockets season and his reunion with Westbrook, the Houston Chronicle reported on July 19.

Tobias Harris of the 76ers, Eric Gordon of the Rockets and CJ McCollum of the Trail Blazers pulled out in subsequent days. Harris and McCollum each cited a version of concentrating on the upcoming season.

Bradley Beal of the Wizards decided to sit out due to the birth of his child, expected in late August/early September, Yahoo Sports reported on July 22.

On the morning of July 23, Trail Blazers point guard Damian Lillard — who had been the biggest star left on the team — and the Spurs’ DeMar DeRozan — who wasn’t even part of the original roster — also withdrew, per The Athletic. DeRozan reportedly said he wanted … to focus on the upcoming season.

Another big-name withdrawal came from Pelicans rookie phenom Zion Williamson, who was slated to be a member of the Select Team — which will scrimmage against the main USA roster during training camp in August — and might have been in line for a call-up.

Here is who remains from the original roster — for now:

Guards: Kemba Walker, Celtics; Donovan Mitchell, Jazz; Kyle Lowry, Raptors

Wings: Khris Middleton, Bucks; Jayson Tatum, Celtics; Paul Millsap, Nuggets; Harrison Barnes, Kings; Kyle Kuzma, Lakers; P.J. Tucker, Rockets

Bigs: Kevin Love, Cavaliers; Andre Drummond, Pistons; Brook Lopez, Bucks; Myles Turner, Pacers

Several players have been added this week as replacements: Marcus Smart, guard, Celtics; Thaddeus Young, wing, Bulls; Jaylen Brown, wing, Celtics; Julius Randle, wing, Knicks

This looks like Mitchell’s team now. Or a version of the Celtics (their four players plus Love or Drummond), trading in green uniforms for red, white and blue.

The team opens training camp August 5 in Las Vegas, and will cut down to a final 12-man roster by August 17 before warm-up games in Australia.

Team USA remains the World Cup favourite, though the gap ahead of Serbia or Spain (or a Giannis Antetokounmpo-led Greece) is surely shrinking.