HAMBURG (FIBA EuroBasket 2017) - Serbia center Miroslav Raduljica will miss FIBA EuroBasket 2017 due to a knee problem that had prevented him from taking part in much of the preparations for the tournament.

The country's basketball federation has made the announcement that the 29-year-old will not be with national side in Istanbul, where Serbia will face Great Britain, Russia, Latvia, Turkey and Belgium in the Group Phase.

"Raduljica, unfortunately, will no longer be part of the team this summer," coach Aleksandar Djordjevic said on Thursday before leaving with the team for a friendly tournament in Hamburg, Germany.

Raduljica was a big part of the Serbia sides that reached the Finals of 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup and the 2016 Olympics and came in fourth at FIBA EuroBasket 2015.

Already without Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic, who is focusing on his personal development ahead of the 2017-18 campaign, Serbia are moving forward with Boban Marjanovic, Vladimir Stimac and Ognjen Kuzmic at the center position.

FIBA