PHILADELPHIA— The United States won gold medals in the 2010 and 2014 World Championships with young, talented teams. But the Americans are suddenly playing short- handed heading into this year’s FIBA World Cup in China.

Forward Kevin Love of Cleveland dropped out of Team USA roster consideration Wednesday, just as point guard Damian Lillard of Portland and forward Demar DeRozan of San Antonio did Tuesday, as guard Bradley Beal of Washington and forward Tobias Harris of Philadelphia did Monday, shortly after guard James Harden of Houston and center Anthony Davis of the Los Angeles Lakers. Forward Zion Williamson of New Orleans, the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft, also took a pass after suffering a knee injury in the NBA Rookie Summer League in Vegas.

Most of those who dropped out are citing a commitment to their NBA teams, pointing to the fact the World Cup schedule, which runs 16 days on the other side of the world before concluding Sept. 15. Some don’t want to risk injury.

Others never considered participating. There will be no Steph Curry or LeBron James. No Kawhi Leonard or Paul George.  No Kevin Durant, James Harden, Klay Thompson, Kyrie Irving or Draymond Green.

The prestige of representing the United States in a major international event during a non-Olympic year is apparently over.

There will only be three NBA All Stars—guard Kemba Walker of Boston, Kyle Lowry of Toronto and forward Khris Middleton of Milwaukee—available when the group of Team USA hopefuls arrives for a four-day training camp Aug. 5 in Las Vegas. And Lowry is recovering from surgery on his left thumb, leaving coach Gregg Popovich to build the rest of his 12-man roster around center Andre Drummond of Detroit, forward Harrison Barnes of Sacramento, forward Kyle Kuzma of the Los Angeles Lakers, forward Jayson Tatum of Boston, guard Donovan Mitchell of Utah, center Myles Turner of Indianapolis, center Brook Lopez of Milwaukee and forward PJ Tucker of Houston.

The 17 players who are now confirmed for Vegas are forward Harrison Barnes of Sacramento; Drummond, Lowry, Middleton Turner, Walker, Kuzma, Lopez, Tatum, Mitchell Tucker and11th hour additions guard Jaylen Brown of Boston; forward Montrezl Harrell of the Los Angeles Clippers; center Mason Plumlee of Denver; center Julius Randle of New York; guard Marcus Smart of Boston; and forward Thaddeus Young of Chicago.

Barnes and Lowry are the only returning members from the 2016 Olympic gold medal team. This Team USA World Cup team should be competitive but will have to max out to win a third consecutive gold medal.

The Rising Stars team that will scrimmage against the national team will consist of center Jarrett Allen of the Brooklyn Nets, forward Marvin Bagley III of Sacramento; forward Mikal Bridges of Phoenix; guard Jalen Brunson of Dallas; forward John Collins of Atlanta; guard Pat Connaughton of Milwaukee; guard De’Aaron Fox of Sacramento; guard Joe Harris of Brooklyn; forward Jonathan Isaac of Orlando; guard Landry Shamett of the Los Angeles Clippers; guard Derrick White of San Antonio and guard Trae Young of Atlanta.

This Team USA World Cup team has enough talent to win a major international event again but has the lowest margin of error since 2006, when the Americans lost to Greece in the semi-finals of the Worlds at Japan and settled for a bronze medal NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo remains committed to play for Greece, a possible second round opponent for the Americans. Rudy Gobert still plans to represent France. Nikola Jokic, who was a nightmare of the U.S. in the 2016 Olympics, is back for Serbia. And Canada—with Jamal Murray, Tristan Thompson, RJ Barrett and Shai-Gilgeous-Alexander– has enough talent on its roster to scare anyone.