NEW YORK: Kevin Durant will not play for the US team defending their title at this month’s Basketball World Cup due to mental and physical exhaustion, the NBA most valuable player said on Thursday.

The high-scoring Oklahoma City Thunder forward’s withdrawal follows the loss of the Indiana Pacers’ Paul George, who last week suffered a compound fracture of his right leg when he landed badly during a team scrimmage.

“This was an extremely difficult decision as I take great pride in representing our country,” Durant, who won gold with the national team at the London Olympics and at the 2010 world championships, said in a statement released by USA Basketball.

“After going through training camp ... I realized I could not fulfill my responsibilities to the team from both a time and energy standpoint. I need to take a step back and take some time away, both mentally and physically in order to prepare for the upcoming NBA season.”

USA Basketball chief Jerry Colangelo said Durant reached out to him and head coach Mike Krzyzewski on Thursday to explain how he felt.

“His well being is the most important thing to us and we support him taking the time to get ready for next season,” said Colangelo.

“He’s been part of the national team program for eight years and a big part of the success we have achieved, and we look forward to him being part of our success in the future as well.”

Durant was the biggest draw among the 16 players competing for berths on the 12-man team that will represent the United States in the 24-nation tournament starting Aug. 30 in Spain.

In recent weeks, Kevin Love, Blake Griffin, LaMarcus Aldridge and NBA Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard have removed themselves from the pool of players for various reasons.

Report: Cavaliers to trade Wiggins for Love

The Cleveland Cavaliers has reached a tentative agreement to trade the two most recent No. 1 overall picks to the Minnesota Timberwolves for star forward Kevin Love, US media reported Thursday.

The Cavaliers will send 2014 overall top draft pick Andrew Wiggins and last year’s No. 1 selection, Anthony Bennett, to the Wolves, Yahoo Sports reported on Thursday. Wiggins and Bennett are the first two Canadian players to be taken first overall in back-to-back National Basketball Association draft years.

Minnesota would also get a first-round choice in 2015 in exchange for Love, a three-time NBA all-star who has reportedly stated that he would opt out of his contract with the Wolves in 2015.

Nothing is official and any deal involving Wiggins cannot be finalized until Aug. 23. NBA rules stipulate that a draft pick cannot be dealt until 30 days after he signs his contract and Wiggins signed his July 24.

Yahoo Sports also reported that Love would still opt out after the upcoming season, but will sign a new contract with the Cavaliers for five years.

Speculation surrounding a trade for Love has been rampant since superstar LeBron James re-signed with Cleveland last month.

In 77 games last season, Love averaged 26.1 points and 12.5 rebounds for the Timberwolves. He has spent his first six NBA seasons with Minnesota and owns career averages of 19.2 points and 12.2 rebounds.

Landing Love together with 2012 Olympic gold medal teammate James and guard Kyrie Irving would give the Cavaliers a “Big Three” to rival what James enjoyed with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh in Miami, where he led the Heat to two titles and four NBA finals before announcing last month he was leaving to return to the Cavaliers, which he spurned in 2010 to join Miami.