USA - Paul eager to play in Turkey

NEW ORLEANS (2010 FIBA World Championship) - Team USA point guard Chris Paul has barely returned from a 25-game absence due to injury, but already his attention is turned to the World Championship in Turkey this summer.

On Monday night Paul was back in the New Orleans Hornets line-up and scored 11 points while also handing out five assists in 21 minutes to help his team stun the in-form Dallas Mavericks 115-99.

It was his first game back after sitting out for seven weeks since undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his left knee in early February.

The Hornets' chances of making the playoffs in the ever-competitive Western Conference are slim to none and Paul could have chosen to sit out the rest of the season to make sure he heeled completely.

Instead, he wants to be out on the court as much as possible and hopes to regain his place in Mike Krzyzewski's team come summer time.

"I've played one game now, so I've still got to see how my knee's doing, but there's nothing like playing international ball," Paul told The Associated Press.

"It's such a good feeling when you can represent your country."

Given the nature of his injury - he tore a meniscus - the 24-year-old playmaker will have to be monitored closely over the next few weeks, but he insists he is not taking any risk.

"If they (doctors) told me 'There's a high chance that you could re-injure yourself' or if I knew there's a chance of really injuring myself, then I wouldn't do it," he added.

"But I've done rehab and all the different things to put myself in a situation where I can go out there and play. So if we had one game left and they told me I could play, then I want to play."

Hornets head coach Jeff Bower plans on talking to Paul about his possible involvement with Team USA once the season is over, but he did not indicate that the organisation would stand in his way of representing his country - as long as he is healthy.

"Representing the Hornets and USA Basketball is a huge honour and we understand that and the care and conditions that that team is under during their participation is something that is beyond question," Bower said.

FIBA