Report: Andrew Wiggins will not play for Canada in Olympic Qualifying Tournament

Minnesota Timberwolves guard-forward Andrew Wiggins has officially declined to play for Team Canada in a Olympic Qualifying Tournament next July.

In a statement released Friday through his agent, Wiggins cites the need to stay with the Timberwolves and prepare for the upcoming season. The 21-year-old former No. 1 overall draft pick is entering his third season in the NBA, and will be playing for a new head coach in Tom Thibodeau next season.

Wiggins helped Canada win the bronze medal at the 2015 FIBA Americas Championship; he led the team in scoring with 15.1 ppg and was named on the tournament’s All-Star Five team.

The Canadian Men’s National Team has yet to qualify for the 2016 Rio Olympics. After a five-game exhibition tournament in June, Team Canada will head to Manila, Philippines in July to compete for a berth in the Olympics, and it will have to do so without one of its biggest stars in Wiggins.

About Marcelo Villa

Marcelo is an associate editor at The Sports Daily, and has covered the San Diego Chargers for Bleacher Report. He also writes for Sportsdirect Inc.

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