LeBrexit: Weary LeBron James counts himself out of Rio Olympic basketball team

LeBron James reportedly joined an NBA All-Star line-up of talent on Thursday that will not play for the United States at the Rio Olympics, while Carmelo Anthony and Kevin Durant will try to bring the Americans a third consecutive gold medal.

A flurry of reports ahead of next week’s announcement of the final US roster for Brazil was topped when Cleveland.com said James has told USA Basketball managing director Jerry Colangelo and coach Mike Krzyzewski that he will not play in August.

“I could use the rest,” James told the website.

James, who led the Cleveland Cavaliers to the greatest-ever NBA finals comeback to dethrone the Golden State Warriors, cited the grind of having logged so much court time through six consecutive trips to the finals.

NBA Most Valuable Player and scoring leader Stephen Curry of Golden State said during the finals that he would not play in Rio.

Star guards Russell Westbrook of Oklahoma City, Chris Paul of the Los Angeles Clippers and James Harden of Houston have also backed out of consideration, as have San Antonio forward LaMarcus Aldridge, Washington forward John Wall, Clippers forward Blake Griffin and Anthony Davis of New Orleans.

Joining that group on Thursday were Portland’s Damian Lillard, who wants to rehabilitate a plantar fasciitis injury; Utah forward Gordon Hayward and San Antonio forward Kawhi Leonard.