Chauncey Billups cut his first USA Basketball experience short because he has committed to spend most of his offseason with his newborn daughter in Denver.

As a result, the Detroit Pistons guard will not play in the world championship next month in Japan. However, Billups will remain on the national team and hopes to make the Olympic team for the 2008 Beijing Games.

"It's a great honor to wear those three letters (USA) on my chest every day, because it's something so huge," Billups said.