Calderon Out Of EuroBasket For Spain

Spain's celebrations over winning the race to host the 2014 FIBA World Championship have been cut short following the announcement by Jose Manuel Calderon that he will not play at this summer's EuroBasket.

Spain's starting point guard is just 27 years old but he has been struggling with injuries since getting hurt in last year's Olympic Quarter-Final triumph over Croatia.

He wasn't able to play in the Semi-Final win over Lithuania or in the gold-medal game defeat to the United States, and this season he coped with very knocks while playing for the Toronto Raptors.

Calderon even underwent a finger operation after the Raptors' NBA campaign.

"I will not play in September at the EuroBasket in Poland," Calderon said.

"It´s impossible. It has been a very difficult decision. But I have to rest a lot."

The finger problem required Calderon to wear a cast.

"They have taken away the cast and now I am beginning my rehabilitation," he said.

"In three weeks, I will be able to use the ball and then there will be another three weeks before I can begin to train.

"In other words, a few months. Moreover, in my leg I have a six centimeter mark that doesn´t allow me to feel comfortable."

Calderon was on his way to MVP honors at EuroBasket 2007 in Spain before the hosts were upset by Russia in the Final. He was voted to the all-tournament team.

"If it were a World Championship or the Olympics, I still wouldn´t be able to go," Calderon said.

"My head and my heart ask me to play but my body says enough. If I don´t stop, this could become chronic."

Spain's fans are also fearful that Los Angeles Lakers superstar Pau Gasol will choose not to play this summer since this is the second straight year that his NBA club has lasted deep into the play-offs. Gasol will not make that decision until after LA's season.

The good news for Spain is that the national team has as much depth at point guard as any country in Europe with Ricky Rubio, Carlos Cabezas, Raul Lopez, Sergio Rodriguez and Victor Sada.

Cabezas, Rodriguez and Sada were not in last year's squad.

There were so many options in the backcourt last summer for Spain, in fact, that national team coach Aito Garcia Reneses had a hard time finding playing time for the guards.

Calderon's absence should guarantee more minutes for Juan Carlos Navarro as well.

Navarro, this season's Euroleague MVP with Barcelona, spent a lot of time on the bench at the Beijing Games.

"I still haven´t gotten used to the idea but it will be difficult to experience the EuroBasket from the outside," Calderon said. He has played at the last three EuroBaskets.

"I will support the national team until the end and I will be the number one fan," he said.

"Spain can aspire to everything, regardless of who plays. I hope they bring the gold medal home, something which we are missing. We will continue to be the favorites."

Spain are in the same EuroBasket group as Serbia, Slovenia and Great Britain.

They will need to have a top six finish to earn a spot at the 2010 FIBA World Championship where hosts Turkey and Olympic gold medalists Team USA have already guaranteed spots.