Fort Worth, Texas ? Comfortable with his insurance coverage, Mavericks center Raef LaFrentz arrived in San Francisco on Friday to begin practice with the United States team for the upcoming World Championships.

Though owner Mark Cuban has voiced concerns regarding insurance coverage for his players, LaFrentz feels the level of protection offered by USA Basketball is adequate.

“I’m comfortable with my situation,” said LaFrentz, who recently signed a seven-year, $60 million contract extension. “I don’t plan on getting hurt, but if I do, I’m covered.”

LaFrentz understands Cuban’s financial investment in his players, but said he didn’t want to pass on an opportunity to suit up for his country.

“This is an issue Mark has taken up with the league and with so many of his players in this, he’s got a lot of money riding on it,” LaFrentz said. “But I look at it as a chance to play for USA Basketball at the top level. Opportunities like this don’t come around that often.”

Originally, six members of last season’s Mavs team were scheduled to compete in the World Championships, which begin Aug. 29 in Indianapolis. Joining LaFrentz are Michael Finley, also playing for the United States, and Germany’s Dirk Nowitzki.

The German Basketball Federation agreed to an additional policy to provide supplemental coverage on Nowitzki.

Insurance issues did play a part in Canada’s Steve Nash pulling out of the tournament Thursday and Germany’s decision not to include Shawn Bradley on its roster. Nash, however, did cite fatigue and a need to prepare for training camp in October as contributing factors.

Wang Zhizhi, a restricted free agent, is also awaiting word on his playing status, but insurance isn’t the holdup. Wang, according to his adviser Simon Chang, is sitting by the phone in Los Angeles hoping to receive a call from the Chinese Basketball Association asking Wang to join the national team.

Wang and the CBA remain at odds over Wang’s decision to remain in the United States after the Mavs’ season instead of returning to China to work out with the national team. China, without Wang, played an exhibition game Friday night against Canada.

Wang’s refusal to return to China also prompted the Mavs to temporarily sever ties with the 7-foot-1 center. Chang said the differences between Wang and the CBA remain pronounced.

“There are a lot of issues that the CBA has to consider,” Chang said without elaborating. “If it were just basketball, it would be an easy thing to do.”

Chang added that Wang, who’s ready to take the next flight out of Los Angeles, would be extremely disappointed if he’s not allowed to reunite with his countrymen. Until then, Wang remains “in limbo.”

“He’s been working very hard out here getting ready to play,” Chang said. “If he’s not able to play, he’ll be very disappointed. But if that happens, he has to move on. He has an NBA career and a lot of new challenges ahead.”