Cory Joseph will not play for Canada at the upcoming FIBA World Cup, according to the Toronto Star's Doug Smith.

Joseph, who attended training camp with Canada, left the team ahead of its first exhibition game against Australia on Aug. 16 but reportedly was expected to return to the team. 

Joseph, who has a long history of playing with Canada, signed a three-year contract with the Sacramento Kings this off-season and could conceivably be stepping away to focus on the upcoming NBA season. Fellow NBA player Kelly Olynyk withdrew from playing with Canada after suffering a knee injury in one of Canada's earlier exhibitions games, and a host of other NBA players declined invitations to attend camp with Canada. 

The FIBA World Cup starts on Aug. 31 in China. A top-seven finish at the tournament would give Canada a berth at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, their first since 2000.