Spain's Calderon retires from national team

MADRID (Rio 2016 Olympic Games) - Jose Manuel Calderon has drawn the curtain on his time as a national team player for Spain.

The Los Angeles Lakers guard, who turns 35 next month, recently served as a back-up to playmakers Ricky Rubio and Sergio Rodriguez at the Olympics, helping his country capture the bronze medal.

A member of Spain's golden generation, Calderon made his senior team bow at the 2002 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Indianapolis and went on to help the national side capture numerous medals.

"What will stay with me is the second family that I've made and that I will always have." - Calderon

A four-time Olympian, Calderon also helped make headlines as an integral part of the squad that won 2006 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Japan.

"This is the place and the time to leave the national team," he said at a ceremony in Madrid on Tuesday. "The bronze medal (in Rio) has been very important. It was my eighth medal.

"It's been very special with the national team. There are young people that are coming up and they also deserve an opportunity.

"I want to continue to play for three or more years at the highest level and I need more time to recover, although the most important thing has been my family and now, I'll be able to spend more time with them.

"I want to thank all my coaches, from Javier Imbroda, the first one that called me, to Sergio Scariolo. I think all of them have helped me to become a better player and a better person."

Calderon helped Spain win a bronze medal in Rio

Calderon knew before he travelled to Brazil that minutes would be sparse but he accepted the role and was thrilled to have another summer with his good friends, players that he considers to be like brothers.

"I want to leave aside the medals," he said. "What will stay with me is the second family that I've made and that I will always have."

FIBA