Gasol
Spanish superstar and national captain Pau Gasol, who is also the NBA All-Star Forward/Centre for the LA Lakers, has decided to skip the upcoming World Basketball Championship to be held in Turkey. The main reason cited has been exhaustion and need for a break after nearly 3 years of non-stop basketball.Gasol ,who turns 30 next month, is apparently wary of his physical capabilities and was reported quoting that leading the spanish team at FIBA level as well as the Olympics in Beijing had been a fulfilling experience,but his priorities lay with putting up his best foot forward for the NBA Finals 2010,and many more years of professional basketball with the Lakers.Since he began his 2007-08 season with Memphis ,before being traded off to the Lakers, Gasol has played in 272 games (a straining figure in itself at the NBA level) and has had to be sidelined by multiple injuries.He couldn’t play in the first 11 games of this year’s regular season due to a strained right hamstring, and he also sat out for 6 games in January 2010 mid-season with a strained left hamstring.
Not out of optimism though, he added that he will be available to consult the national team whenever possible and that his vacancy gives the younger players a chance to fill in vital spots at the national level.Spain will defend its title starting Aug 29,2010 in Turkey and has been pooled alongside France, New Zealand, Lithuania, Lebanon and Canada.Gasol,who is also an Olympic star for Spain, helped Spain win its first title four years ago in Beijing.
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