Al Horford announced Tuesday that he will not play for the Dominican Republic in the upcoming FIBA Americas tournament. The Hawks center never committed to the team, which will be coached by Hawks assistant Kenny Atkinson, and indicated following the season that it was unlikely he would play.
In an announcement posted on Twitter in Spanish, Horford said: “Given the concerns about my participation in the FIBA Americas Championship, I inform you that I have decided not to participate in the tournament in an effort to better concentrate on improving my game and better focus on my full recovery after this long last season. It is an honor to play with the Dominican team and it’s something I’ve always done with great pride but his decision is the best for me right now. I appreciate the support of my fans and send best wishes for the team.”
The FIBA Americas tournament, which is a qualifier for the 2016 Olympics, will be played Aug. 31-Sept. 12 in Mexico City. The top two teams in the 10-team field will go to Rio De Janeiro next August.
The Dominican Republic team will hold a training camp in Atlanta next month.
