Puerto Rico won’t see the service of its national star Jose Alvarado for this year’s FIBA Basketball World Cup.
The nation released its preliminary roster for the global basketball event on Thursday and Alvarado wasn’t listed as a participant. Puerto Rico barred the 25-year-old as the stress reaction on his tibia hasn’t healed yet.
The injury was sustained by Alvarado back in Feb. 27 in a loss against the New York Knicks, and this ultimately shutted him down for the remainder of the 2022-23 season.
Per Andrew Lopez of ESPN, the absence of Alvarado for Puerto Rico serves as a precautionary measure also of the New Orleans Pelicans with the franchise set to prepare for training camp in late September.
Alvarado appeared for 61 games last regular season and averaged 9 points, 3.0 assists and 2.3 boards.
Puerto Rico will play China, Serbia and South Sudan at the group phase of the World Cup.
