The most coveted member of the Brazilian Pre-Olympic basketball team Leandrinho Barbosa said Tuesday that he will not participate in this year's fight for an Olympic spot.
The player is one of three Brazilian NBA stars who will not represent their country in this year's competition for the final three spots at the Beijing Olympics.
The Pre-Olympic tournament will be held in Athens, Greece, from July 14 to 20.
Leandrinho has been suffering tendonitis in his right knee. The diagnosis came from team doctor of his NBA team, the Phoenix Suns.
The medical department of the Suns has stated that Leandrinho Barbosa needs "total distance from any physical activity."
Leandrinho laments his absence, but says that "For sure, I will be rooting for Brazil to win a spot in the Olympics."
In Leandrinho's absence, the coach of the Brazilian national basketball team Moncho Monsalve has invited guard Fluvio to play in the Pre-Olympic Games.
Fluvio was the leader in assists in the Supercopa of Sao Paulo. He is 26 years old and had his first practice with the rest of the Brazilian Olympic team on Tuesday morning.
The other players who make up the Brazilian Pre-Olympic team are Marcelinho Huertas, Duda Machado, Alex, Marcelinho Machado, Jonathan Tavernari, Marcus Vinicius, Ricardo Probst, Baby, JP Batista, Murilo and Tiago Splitter.
(Xinhua News Agency June 18, 2008)