A "physically and mentally drained" Kevin Durant has begged off from Team USA Thursday leaving the team just 15 players to choose from to represent the country in the FIBA World Cup in Spain.

"I realized I could not fulfill my responsibilities to the team," Durant said in a statement.

"I need to take a step back and take some time away, both mentally and physically in order to prepare for the upcoming NBA season," Durant added.

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The Oklahoma City Thunder small forward even called Coach Mike Krzyzewski and USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo to deliver the bad news.

"He tried to give it a go at our recent Las Vegas training camp but felt coming out of camp that he was not prepared to fulfill the commitment he made to the team," Colangelo said.

With John Wall, Bradley Beal and Paul Millsap cut from the team, the untimely departure of injured Paul George and now Durant pulling out of the team, Team USA has only 15 finalists vying for the 12-man roster to represent the country.

Durant was considered a shoo-in to the team, actively playing for the United States and collecting two gold medals in the 2010 FIBA World Championships in Turkey and the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

Team USA is now in need of a strong forward to fill the shoes of Durant and Love.

This leaves Anthony Davis, Kenneth Faried, Mason Plumlee, Chandler Parsons, Gordon Hayward and Kyle Korver to fill up the gap left by the two.

Davis is also part of the gold-winning team in London so he's expected to be part of the squad. Coach K might consider the possibility of taking the five remaining forwards to Spain and take out three guards in the form of Kyrie Irving, Damian Lillard, DeMar DeRozan or Klay Thompson.

U.S. basketball officials have until Aug. 23 to decide whether to bring all 15 players to Spain and decide later on the final 12-man lineup that will be submitted to FIBA on the eve of the tournament's opening day on Aug. 30.

TagsPaul George, Anthony Davis, Kenneth Faried, Mason Plumlee, Chandler Parsons, Gordon Hayward, Kyle Korver, Kyrie Irving