ESP – Jimenez retires from Spanish national team

BEIJING (Olympics) – Spain’s long-time captain Carlos Jimenez has decided to retire from the national team.

The 32-year-old Jimenez, who averaged 5.8 points and 4.8 rebounds at the Olympics, signed off with a silver medal at the Beijing Games.

Jimenez played 25 minutes in arguably the greatest gold-medal game of all time, a 118-107 defeat to the United States, scoring 12 points and grabbing three rebounds.

“I am really satisfied,” Jimenez said. “Things have gone really well for me. I’ve been a part of a fantastic group.

“When I look back, the work of many years has paid off.”

Jimenez made his debut with the national team in 1997 and went on to earn 187 caps.

The Unicaja Malaga forward led Spain to silver medals at the 1999, 2003 and 2007 EuroBaskets, bronze in 2001, and gold at the 2006 FIBA World Championship.

Spain playmaker Jose Manuel Calderon said of this summer’s Olympics: "It was the most emotional moment when he (Jimenez) told us that he was retiring from the national team because he was the most capped player and for us he has been very important.

"He told us he was really proud of us, all the youngsters.

“But he has been the one that has been the key to this team having great camaraderie."

FIBA