Marc Gasol confirmed out of Spanish Olympic squad

MALAGA (Rio 2016 Olympic Games) - Marc Gasol will not be able to represent Spain at an Olympics for the third time in his career, the player and the Spanish Basketball Federation (FEB) announced in a joint statement on Thursday afternoon.

Just hours before the national team was to run onto the court in Malaga to take on Lithuania in an Olympic warm-up game, the FEB delivered the disappointing news on their website.

Gasol, who plays for the Memphis Grizzlies, broke his foot in February and was lost for the remainder of the season.

Spain had hoped the All-Star center would have a fast rehabilitation and travel with the team to Rio de Janeiro.

The statement said: "After months of intense individual work to recover, which has continued in the last three weeks during the pre-Olympic stage, and doing all the possible sacrifices to follow the schedule to recover in order to be a part of the national team in Rio, Marc Gasol has not been able to get the necessary green light to make the aim a reality and hence, he will not be able to take part at the Olympic Games."

The player had held a press conference at the start of the summer and admitted he was a big doubt for the Summer Games. Spain will move on and have plenty of confidence they can win games without their center.

Gasol was absent from last year's EuroBasket but his brother, Pau Gasol, led the team to the title.

There will be plenty of experience for coach Sergio Scariolo to call on with Spain's backcourt a particular strength.

The team will go up against Argentina, Brazil, Croatia, Lithuania and Nigeria in Group B.

FIBA