OKLAHOMA CITY (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Qualifiers) - Alex Abrines knows there aren't any guarantees regarding a place in Spain's national team for the third window of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Qualifiers.

While he is expected to be available, the Spanish have a deep squad including a number of players that already helped the country win all four of their game so far.

Abrines played for Spain at the FIBA EuroBasket 2017, the Olympic Men's Tournament at Rio 2016 and the FIBA Basketball World Cup in 2014. Despite this, the 24-year-old is not expecting any favors when Spain travel to Slovenia on June 28 and host Belarus on July 1.

"THIS IS GOOD FOR PLAYERS TO SHOW THEY HAVE THE QUALITY TO REACH THE NATIONAL TEAM. IT'S IMPORTANT TO STEP UP FOR THE NATIONAL TEAM AND TREASURE PLAYING FOR THAT SHIRT AND JUST GET CONFIDENCE BECAUSE WHO KNOWS, MAYBE IN THE FUTURE THEY WILL BE NEEDED" AbrinesAbrines

"If I can play, if I have no injuries and if the national team calls me, I'm always happy to help and happy to play those games," said Abrines, who only played one game at last summer's EuroBasket after sustaining an injury in Spain's opener against Montenegro. 

"You never know. For the last couple of summers I have been with them but that doesn't mean I don't have to play hard because there are other good players. Just last year Joan Sastre did a really good job (at EuroBasket) and there are others playing really well in the Spanish league."

The 26-year-old Sastre, who like Abrines missed the November 2017 and February 2018 Qualifiers, averaged 4.4 points, 1.7 rebounds, 1.7 steals and 1.3 assists in the top European basketball competition. He has put up 6.8 points, 2.3 rebounds and 2.2 assists this season for Valencia in Spain.

Despite being without a number of leading players for the first two windows on the Road to China 2019, the Spaniards went 4-0 in Group A thanks to impressive performances by another wave of players. And Abrines thinks the Qualifiers are a great chance for them.

"WE GO TO SMALL CITIES AND ALL THE PEOPLE CHEER FOR US AND THE GYMS ARE FULL. IT'S REALLY NICE TO PLAY THAT QUALITY OF BASKETBALL FOR PARTS OF SPAIN THAT DON'T ALWAYS HAVE A TEAM IN THE FIRST OR SECOND DIVISION" AbrinesAbrines

"This is good for players to show they have the quality to reach the national team. It's important to step up for the national team and treasure playing for that shirt and just get confidence because who knows, maybe in the future they will be needed," Abrines said.

The Oklahoma City Thunder's 6ft 6in (1.98m) swingman is looking forward to playing in front of the home fans again - especially in cities that might not be the biggest in Spain, as he experienced during preparation games for major tournaments.

"We go to small cities and all the people cheer for us and the gyms are full," Abrines said. "It's really nice to play that quality of basketball for parts of Spain that don't always have a team in the first or second division."

Abrines also experienced a global tournament in front of his compatriots as his senior national team debut came at the last World Cup, where he averaged 2.8 points as a 21-year-old and got to represent his country in Granada and Madrid.

"It's always great. You always want the crowd to cheer for you. In the tough moments, when the other team has a run, they can help you to get confidence and push you through it and get back into the game," he said.

Abrines hopes he can experience the push of the home fans this summer again. 

FIBA