Golden State Warriors’ guard pulls out of World Cup through injury

Newly-acquired guard Cory Joseph will not travel with Team Canada as part of their World Cup squad, leaving Lester Quinones as the only Golden State Warriors’ player active for the upcoming tournament.

The 31-year-old was initially part of the Canadian setup, offering the opportunity for Golden State fans to see the recently-signed free agent in action. That’s no longer the case, leaving Quinones (Dominican Republic) and Steve Kerr (head coach of Team USA) as the major Golden State representatives.

Cory Joseph will spend the remainder of the offseason preparing for his first year with the Golden State Warriors in 2023-24.

According to Sportsnet’s Michael Grange, Joseph has had a back injury flare-up during Canada’s camp. That’s led to a mutual decision for the veteran point-guard not to travel to the Philippines for the tournament beginning on August 25.

Joseph joins fellow Warrior Andrew Wiggins as absent for a Canadian team led by Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and recently crowned NBA champion Jamal Murray.

Joseph signed a one-year, minimum contract with the Warriors on July 6, re-joining a championship-aspiring team after four seasons out of the playoffs with the Sacramento Kings and Detroit Pistons.

Although Joseph was primarily signed as insurance to hall-of-fame point-guard’s Stephen Curry and Chris Paul, his health and availability will be important as the battle for rotation minutes heats up during training camp.

The 12-year NBA veteran played 62 games with the Pistons last season, averaging 6.9 points, 1.7 rebounds and 3.5 assists in nearly 20 minutes per game. He also shot 38.9% from three-point range, the second-highest mark of his career.

Joseph has had a decorated career for Team Canada, having debuted over a decade ago. He averaged 15 points, 3.4 rebounds and 4.8 assists in five games at the 2019 FIBA World Cup in China.