In European basketball, playing for the national team is considered something sacred. NBA players who, for any reason, decline to join their national team for some kind of event often leave fans disappointed. Portland Trail Blazers star Jusuf Nurkic decided to stay in the U.S. while recovering from a leg fracture as well as to build a bond with his new team. For a team from the Balkans which doesn't see much talent hit the pros, fans are very disappointed in Nurkic's decision.
However, one name rises above all the European NBA players – Pau Gasol. The San Antonio Spurs center is still playing for the Spanish national team and was part of the list of 27 players the Spanish head coach invited to play at the next Eurobasket. Gasol spoke about the national team in Barcelona at the launch of his basketball academy.
“I can confirm my presence on the list and my intention to continue to win more medals and achieve success with our national team,” Gasol said. “Each tournament can be the last and that is why you have to give your all and compete as though that were the case. We shall see if in two years' time (at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019) I play or what we do.”
Considering his age, Gasol is truly an inspiration. It is a similar story with the Dallas Mavericks star Dirk Nowitzki, who didn't rejected an invitation to play for Germany until the latter parts of his career.
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