RSS
@
Twitter
Facebook
After the NBA locked out their players for failing to reach a new CBA deal with the team owners, most of the European players expressed their intention to suit for their country in the upcoming EuroBasket Men 2011 on August in Lithuania.
According to most of the players, the NBA lockout will provide them an additional time to rest, giving them the opportunity to play for their country in the upcoming European Championships, especially if the lockout will result into some games being cancelled.
Barring any injuries, Dirk Nowitzki, the German superstar who recently led the Dallas Mavericks to their first ever NBA title, expressed his desire to play in Lithuania this summer despite coming from a grueling NBA season where they defeated the Miami Heat in the NBA finals in six games.
“It looks that way, assuming that I finally get healthy,” Nowitzki said. “And that’s why I definitely want to play. I don’t want to ruin the others’ chances of participating in the Olympics. To qualify, we have to finish at least sixth at the European championships.”
Defending European champions, Spain, will also be parading their stars led by Los Angeles Lakers superstar Pau Gasol, his brother Marc of the Memphis Grizzlies, Jose Calderon of the Toronto Raptors, Rudy Fernandez of the Dallas Mavericks, and Minnesota Timberwolves rookie Ricky Rubio.
The Spanish squad will also be reinforced by Oklahoma City Thunder forward Serge Ibaka, who will play for Spain as naturalized player in the upcoming EuroBasket, barring any problem on the processing of his citizenship.
France will also one of the teams to watch in the upcoming European championships after San Antonio Spurs guard Tony Parker, Portland Trail Blazers high-flying forward Nicolas Batum, Phoenix Suns guard Michael Pietrus, Charlotte Bobcats forward Boris Diaw. New York Knicks forward Ronnie Turiaf, and Chicago Bulls do-it-all center Joakim Noah, who will finally be donning national colors after years of absence in the senior’s team.
Turkey, who finished second to USA in last year’s World Basketball Championship, will also be parading a star-studded lineup led by veteran Hedo Turkoglu, Omer Asik, Semih Erden, Ersan Ilyasova, Mehmet Okur, and this year’s NBA third-overall pick Enes Kanter.
The NBA lockout could result into a delay of the start of the 2011-2012 NBA Season, a fact that made the players’ decision easier.
The EuroBasket Men 2011 will run from August 31 to September 18 in Lithuania.
NBA Players on National Team Rosters for EuroBasket 2011
- Dirk Nowitzki (Germany)
- Chris Kaman (Germany)
- DJ Mbenga (Belgium)
- Goran Dragic (Eslovenia)
- Pau Gasol (Spain)
- Marc Gasol (Spain)
- Jose Calderón (Spain)
- Rudy Fernández (Spain)
- Ricky Rubio (Spain)
- Serge Ibaka (Spain)
- Tony Parker (France)
- Nicolas Batum (France)
- Michael Pietrus (France)
- Boris Diaw (France)
- Joakim Noah (France)
- Ronnie Turiaf (France)
- Zhazha Pachulia (Georgia)
- Luol Deng (Great Britain)
- Ben Gordon (Great Britain)
- Kousta Koufos (Greece)
- Omri Casspi (Israel)
- Andrea Bargnani (Italy)
- Marco Belinelli (Italy)
- Danilo Gallinari (Italy)
- Andries Biedrins (Latvia)
- Darius Songalia (Lithuania)
- Donatas Motiejunas (Lithuania)
- Nikola Pekovic (Montenegro)
- Nikola Vucevic (Montenegro)
- Marcin Gortat (Poland)
- Andrei Kirilenko (Russia)
- Timofey Mozgov (Russia)
- Nenad Krstic (Serbia)
- Hedo Turkoglu (Turkey)
- Omer Asik (Turkey)
- Semih Erden (Turkey)
- Ersan Ilyasova (Turkey)
- Enes Kanter (Turkey)
- Mehmet Okur (Turkey)
- Kyrylo Fesenko (Ukraine)
Buzz