NBA.com reports that Manu Ginobili's international days are likely to be over now being 37 years old and having suffered another injury that will prevent him from playing with his National Team Argentina in the 2014 FIBA World Cup. When asked by Buenos Aires daily newspaper La Nacion if he was comfortable saying that he will never play with the national team again, here is what the San Antonio Spurs dynamic sixth man has to say:
If I had played this tournament, it would have definitely been my last. As things stand today, I'd say it's almost certain, like a 98% chance that I'll never play again. It will always be hard for me to retire from this team. I know how slim the chances are, so today I'd say that yes, this was my last chance and it's past.
(Translation: SB Nation)
A few weeks ago, it was reported that the San Antonio Spurs denied Ginobili from participating in the upcoming World Cup of Basketball due to a stress fracture that was diagnosed during the NBA finals which will require at least 2 months of recovery time per Spurs Nation. Ginobili and Patty Mills were among the Spurs players who are reportedly playing with some sort of injury in their championship run against the Miami Heat in the NBA finals.
In his interview with La Nacion, Ginobili was obviously disheartened with the realization that he wont be representing his country in any international hoops for the rest of his life. Manu has been a vital part of Argentina's National Basketball teams since 1998 - long before he joined the Spurs in 2002. He was part of the the country's so-called "Golden Generation" together with NBA players like Luis Scola and Andres Nocioni and was the leader of the Argentinian squad who upset the US team en route to the the gold medal at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens.
Ginobili's loyalty and passion for his National Team has been a constant source of argument within the Spurs organization because of his injury riddled career. In the Beijing Olympics in 2008, he broke his ankle and re injured it again in the regular season of the NBA that made him missed the playoffs.
If the Spurs are to successfully defend their NBA title, they need Ginobili fresh and healthy for the upcoming grind of the 2014-2015 NBA regular season and playoffs.
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