LTU - Kleiza puts injury agony behind him

TORONTO (NBA/FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament) - He only played 14 minutes for the Toronto Raptors in this week's game against Sacramento, but the appearance was among the most important of Linas Kleiza's career following 11 months out of action.

Kleiza, a member of the all-tournament team at the 2010 FIBA World Championship in Turkey after leading Lithuania to a surprise bronze medal, had to watch in frustration over the summer as the national team came in fifth at the EuroBasket in his own country.

He went under the knife last February and had to work his way back slowly.

Kleiza is expected to be in the Lithuania shirt this summer when the team competes at the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament.

"For me personally, after having a year off, it feels good to be back," Kleiza said.

A 2.03m forward, Kleiza needed an operation to repair what doctors called a "meniscal tear and chondral defect of his right knee" last February.

In the game against the Kings, Kleiza was his normal, combative self and even scored 10 points.

If some players are nervous about coming back from injuries, the 27-year-old Kleiza was not.

"The game is like easy practice for me compared to what I've been doing off the court," he said.

Kleiza is not in 100% game shape, yet, but he said: "I don't think it's going to be too long. I still can't play heavy minutes, but I think I came back at the right time."

The FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament will be staged from 2 July to 8 July in Caracas, Venezuela.

Twelve teams will compete for three spots still available for the London Games.

Since gaining their independence from the old Soviet Union, Lithuania have played at every Olympic Games – Barcelona (1992), Atlanta (1996), Sydney (2000), Athens (2004) and Beijing (2008).

Kleiza competed at the last Olympics in China.

FIBA