ARG - Hermann uncertain over Argentina future

DETROIT (2008 Beijing Olympics) - Walter Hermann admits he will not warrant a place in Argentina's Olympic squad if he does not start seeing some on-court action with the Detroit Pistons.

The 28-year-old is yet to make his official debut for the Pistons after arriving from the Charlotte Bobcats earlier this month and the dream of retaining his gold medal from Athens is looking somewhat distant.

He told Clarin newspaper: "I'm not currently playing and the truth is that I don't know if I will play this year. To play at the Olympic Games, you have to be well-prepared.

"I think the ones who deserve to go to the Olympics are the 12 whose form is the best. If I don't play this year, my preparation would not be suitable."

The forward missed the FIBA Americas Championship because he was uncertain about his future: "If Charlotte hadn't renewed my contract, I would have had to play a Summer League again at the same time the national team were playing.

"After this season, the same will happen, because I don't know whether I will continue in the NBA or go back to Europe.

"The national team cannot wait for me, especially if I am a guy who plays for two months and then doesn't for one."

"My priority is to consolidate myself as an NBA player.

"If I had been signed before the season, everything would have been different. I came here looking forward to playing, but I still don't know if I will play this year. This is an established team, with a lot of players. I cannot demand to have minutes on court."

Despite the lack of activity, Herrmann is setting his sights high.

"My ambition is winning the NBA ring," he said.

"Then, if I can have a place in the team, it would be fantastic. If not, I will contribute in training to help the team be as successful as possible.

"My ambition and my philosophy is victory. If you don't win, you can do a good job but you have failed to clinch your goal.

"The coach told me to be patient, that he will try to find the right place for me in the team. I have to be patient and work hard."

Matias Greco
FIBA