INDIANAPOLIS (NBA) – Every NBA season is long and exhausting but the commitment of some players to their national team is never in question.

With 13 international competitions under his belt since 2000, including the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Spain, Argentina’s Luis Scola of the Indiana Pacers is certainly a lynchpin in his national team.

With San Antonio Spurs star Manu Ginobili injured and unable to play at the World Cup in 2014, the Argentinians were eliminated in the Round of 16 by Brazil (85-65).

Scola nevertheless had an impressive tournament, averaging 19.5 points, 8.5 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game.

Now in his eighth NBA season, the former Houston Rocket is one of the most productive Pacers, who have been struggling since the beginning of the season.

Scola, a vital member of the team that finished runners-up at the 2002 FIBA Basketball World Cup and won the Olympic title in 2004, remains hungry for more success.

The veteran forward has spoken to FIBA.com.

FIBA: The Indiana Pacers have been struggling since the beginning of the season.
Scola: We are frustrated because we have been dealing with a lot of injured players. We know that we have a very talented roster, but we haven’t been able to play all together for many games since the beginning of the season. It has been a difficult season so far but we need to keep working hard in order to reach a playoff spot. We will get through those tough times and we are not going to give up.

FIBA: You have had a solid season coming out of the bench.
Scola: I am always training in order to be in the starting line-up but I also want to win titles, which is the reason I have chosen to come to Indiana. I knew before joining the Pacers that the frontcourt was solid and I think that is the best place for me to fight for an NBA title. I am not a starter right now, but my motivation remains the same, as I want to spend minutes on the court every night and help the team win games. The team always comes first.

FIBA: You have been a devoted member of the national team. Why is it so important for you to play for Argentina?
Scola: It is a pride for me to wear the national team jersey. I am the kind of person that loves basketball and I really enjoy playing with my national team whenever there is an international competition. I have been having a lot of great moments with my teammates and I am trying to give my best in order to help my country have a competitive national team.

FIBA: In 2010, you led Argentina past Brazil in the Eighth-Finals at the World Cup in Turkey and you also beat your South American rivals in the Quarter-Finals of the 2012 Olympics. But they beat you in the Round of 16 at last year's World Cup.
Scola: We thought that we could go far in the tournament but we got eliminated by a team that played better than us. We didn’t have a very good first round and we played in the Round of 16 against one of the best teams of the competition and our biggest continental rival, Brazil. We have beaten them a couple of times but we lost that one. It was a bit disappointing, but we need to look forward and think about the future competitions.

FIBA: Argentina’s players from the golden generation don’t have a lot of years left at international level. What do you think about the future of the national team?
Scola: Argentina has been having a lot of success in the last 12 years and the federation is working in order to keep the national team competitive. There are some interesting youngsters, such as Real Madrid’s Facundo Campazzo, but there is still a lot of work to do to have a very solid national team for the future.  

FIBA