Wolves star Wiggins withdraws from Olympic qualifying to focus on training

MINNEAPOLIS -- Andrew Wiggins says he is withdrawing from Team Canada and will not participate in Olympic qualifying this summer so he can focus on his upcoming season with the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Wiggins made the announcement through his agency, BDA Sports, on Friday. Wiggins says it was not an easy decision for him, but one he felt he had to make.

The former rookie of the year will be entering his third season with the Timberwolves. He has played in 163 of a possible 164 games in his career and has averaged almost 36 minutes per game in his first two seasons.

Wiggins says he is spending the summer preparing for an even bigger role with a Wolves team headed by new coach and president Tom Thibodeau.