Kevin Durant withdrew from the USA national basketball team, the biggest loss yet for a weakening American group that will go to the basketball World Cup without the leading scorer from its last two gold medal squads.

The NBA's MVP took part in the American training camp in Las Vegas last week, but then informed team officials that he wasn't going to continue.

Durant was the most valuable player of the world championship in 2010, leading the Americans to that title for the first time since 1994.