FIBA Basketball World Cup Legend: Luis Scola

MADRID (FIBA Basketball World Cup) - One of international basketball's greatest players for the past decade has been Luis Scola of Argentina.

The Buenos Aires-born big man has been tremendous at FIBA World Championships, Olympic Games and FIBA Americas Championships.

At the last three World Championships, he has distinguished himself as a fearless competitor on both ends of the floor.

In his first major event with Argentina, in 2002 in Indianapolis, Scola was just 22 yet coach Ruben Magnano played him an average of more than 18 minutes per contest.

Against a star-studded United States, Scola had 13 points, five rebounds and three assists as Argentina prevailed, 87-80.

He came within a whisker of celebrating a gold medal triumph but Argentina, who defeated Brazil and Germany in the Quarter-Finals and Semi-Finals, respectively, lost an 84-77 overtime heartbreaker in the Final to the former Yugoslavia.

Scola ended up averaging more than nine points in Indiana.

In 2006 and just a couple of summers removed from a Gold Medal win at the Athens Olympics, where Scola had been immense, he helped fire Argentina to win big win after another.

Scola had a monster game in an 83-79 Preliminary Round triumph over Serbia and Montenegro, pouring in 22 points and 13 boards.

After that fifth straight win for Argentina, the Biancoceleste stormed into the Knockout Round to take on New Zealand.

In a physical encounter, Scola had to leave the game briefly after a nasty fall that saw him chip two teeth.

Argentina would end up suffering World Championship heartbreak again, losing 75-74 to eventual goal medalists Spain in the Semi-Finals when Andres Nocioni's attempt from the right corner at the death only drew rim.

The United States then beat Argentina in the Bronze Medal Game, and Scola ended up averaging more than 14 points and seven rebounds.

In 2010, his legend grew at FIBA World Championships when he averaged a tournament-high 27.1 points and 7.9 rebounds.

In one of the greatest performances ever seen at the event, during a narrow Eighth-Final victory over South American rivals Brazil, Scola carried Argentina on his back.

He made 14 of 20 shots from the floor and eight of nine at the free-throw line on his way to 37 points.

Lithuania then defeated Argentina to eliminate them from medal contention, but Scola finished the tournament strong with 27 and 22 points, respectively, in triumphs over Russia and Spain to ensure his team finished fifth.

Scola, not surprisingly, made the All-Tournament Team.

Argentina Basketball Confederation President German Vaccaro paid a glowing tribute to Scola at the 2010 event in Turkey.

"With all my respect to all the other players, for who is going to deny what Chapu (Nocioni) or Manu Ginobili have given to this national team and will continue to do so, but Luis' case is something incredible," Vaccaro said to FIBA.

"For me, of the golden generation, he is the example to follow.

"He is someone that never says no and when there is a problem, he finds a way to play for the national team.

"He tells me that one day his body will say 'enough', but when he takes time off, he says his body needs basketball and that is why he uses these tournaments as a pre-season.

"He is truly commendable.

"For me he is the great leader, he is the example to follow not only for basketball players but for any sportsmen."

FIBA