Ginobili ruled out of 2014 World Cup

San Antonio Spurs guard Manu Ginoboli will not play for his native Argentina at the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup as a result of a stress fracture in his right leg.

Last month, just weeks after helping the Spurs win the 2014 NBA title with a 4-1 trounce over the Miami Heat, the 37-year-old announced he would represent Argentina in Spain 2014 if he was fully recovered from his injury.

Nevertheless, after having an MRI this past week the results were inconclusive, and the San Antonio Spurs refused Ginobili to compete in his third World Cup – he featured in 2002 and 2006, but missed the 2010 edition held in Turkey.

The announcement is a major for Argentina after Juan Gutierrez pulled out because of a hip injury.

Ginobili was crucial in Argentina’s squad that won gold medal at the 2004 Olympic Games, and became a key member of his country’s golden generation, which includes Indiana Pacers forward Luis Scola.

Ginobili averaged 12.3 points and 4.3 assists per game last season for the Spurs.

Argentina will play in Group B in the Spanish city of Seville against Croatia, Greece, Senegal, Puerto Rico and the Philippines.

After the Spurs’ latest title, Ginobili announced his intention of playing in Spain in style.

Writing a column in an Argentinian newspaper, he said: “The first person I spoke to (about playing) was my wife.

“I also spoke to Pop (Spurs coach Gregg Popovich) and called up Julio (Lamas) to confirm it.

“For the first time in my career, it wasn’t an easy decision to say yes.

Ginobili is expected to sit out for up to two months with the injury, which would cut it close with the late-August start of the World Cup in Spain.