Manu Ginobili to skip FIBA World Cup
While the USA men’s basketball team is in training camp gearing up for the 2014 FIBA World Cup, news broke today that they will not have to worry about one major Argentinian superstar.
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Four time NBA champion and two time NBA All Star, Manu Ginobili will not play in the FIBA World Cup with the Argentina national team according to Express News. The Argentine Basketball Federation made the official announcement yesterday, citing a stress fracture in Manu’s fibula.
The injury occurred during the NBA playoffs, yet Manu did not miss a single game en route to the championship. Unfortunately for Manu, being age 37, this likely means that his international basketball career has come to an end.
To make matters worse, it was not Ginobili’s decision to play or not to play. The Argentine Basketball Federation was forced to ban him from the World Cup due to a clause in the agreement with the NBA and FIBA regarding a player not being allowed to play for his international team if there is “a reasonable medical concern” for his health.
Obviously a stress fracture in Manu’s fibula is a “reasonable medical concern”, especially when you consider any further damage to the leg without rehab could result in Manu’s NBA career being cut short.
Manu does not look like he will retire anytime soon, however, so it is plausible that he could play for Argentina once more, but that would be quite the accomplishment to do. Regardless, Manu’s priorities are with the San Antonio Spurs, not the Argentinian national team.