NEW YORK (AP) An injured Jason Kidd was dropped from the U.S. roster for the World Basketball Championship on Monday, replaced by New Orleans Hornets guard Baron Davis.

Kidd, who led the New Jersey Nets to the NBA Finals last season, was taken off the 12-man team because of an injured groin. He was hurt during the Eastern Conference finals against Boston.

"The feeling was it would go away, but it hasn't yet," Nets president Rod Thorn said. "It's still bothering him, and the feeling of our medical staff and Jason was we ought to play it safe."

Kidd is expected to be ready for the start of next season.

The FIBA World Championship is Aug. 28-Sept. 8 in Indianapolis. The U.S. team begins training Aug. 16 in San Francisco and plays exhibition games Aug. 22 against China in Oakland, Calif., and Aug. 25 vs. Germany in Portland, Ore.

"It's unfortunate that Jason Kidd won't be a part of the 2002 USA Basketball team," said Stu Jackson, chairman of USA Basketball men's senior national team. "He has been a great player for USA Basketball over the years and will be sorely missed."

Kidd was on the gold medal-winning U.S. team at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

Davis, who played for the United States in the 2001 Goodwill Games at Brisbane, Australia, averaged 18.1 points, 8.5 assists and 3.1 steals for the Hornets last season. He led the gold-medal winning Goodwill team in both assists and steals.

Jackson said Davis' international experience made him an easy substitute.

"Baron was without a doubt our top choice as a replacement point guard," he said. "He received very, very strong consideration with the initial 12 members of the team. When somebody went down, it was a given he would be the next pick."

The selection was the latest piece of good news for Davis, who last week signed a seven-year contract with New Orleans.

"I was pretty shocked, actually," he said of his selection. "I was enjoying the summer spending time with my family and friends. I had to ask my grandmother if I had her permission. I had been spending all summer with her."

The rest of the U.S. roster for the World Championship: Ray Allen, Elton Brand, Antonio Davis, Michael Finley, Raef LaFrentz, Shawn Marion, Andre Miller, Reggie Miller, Jermaine O'Neal, Paul Pierce, Ben Wallace.

Jackson said he did not expect further roster changes, although Allen is undergoing rehabilitation for a sore knee.

"We're under the impression that Ray is going to be a part of the team," Jackson said.

Alternates are Nick Collison and Jay Williams.

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