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Pau Gasol won't play in world championships for Spain

Los Angeles Lakers center Pau Gasol has decided not to play for Spain at the world basketball championships this summer, choosing to rest up from three years of nearly nonstop play.

After practice at the Lakers' training complex Tuesday, Gasol said he simply needs a break after his third straight trip to the NBA finals, which begin Thursday against Boston.

"It was hard," Gasol said of his decision. "We accomplished many great things as a team, and it was always a fun time for me. ... But I have to understand how much basketball I've been playing over the last three years, and how much I want to give to the Lakers over the next several years. I know if I continue to do [both], my body is going to break down."

Since the beginning of the 2007-08 season with Memphis before his trade to Los Angeles, Gasol has played in 272 NBA games -- and the strain is catching up to him. The 7-foot center missed the Lakers' first 11 games this season with a strained right hamstring, and he sat out six games in January with a strained left hamstring.

Gasol, who turns 30 next month, also hopes his absence will allow Spain's younger players to fill major roles on the national team.

Spain will defend its title in the championship in Turkey from Aug. 29-Sept. 12, playing in Group D alongside France, New Zealand, Lithuania, Lebanon and Canada. Gasol, also an Olympic star in Beijing, helped Spain win its first world title four years ago in Japan.
Dwight Howard might not play for Team USA in FIBA World Championship
Dwight Howard might not play for USA Basketball at this summer's world championships.

Orlando's All-Star center and the NBA's two-time defending defensive player of the year said on Monday that he hasn't decided if he will play.

It was the first time Howard has publicly wavered about playing in this summer's world championships. He had stayed firm on his commitment all season even as LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and other stars expressed doubts about participating because of impending free agency.

"I haven't decided what I'm going to do," Howard said after the Magic's end-of-season meeting. "I'm just going to get some rest and think about that later on."

Howard played for the U.S. when it won gold at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. He also won a bronze medal in the 2006 world championships.

In the past two years, Howard has become the most dominant center in the game.

He is the first player in NBA history to lead the league in blocks and rebounds in the same season twice, let alone in consecutive years. Howard took the Magic to the NBA finals last year, and they lost to the Boston Celtics in the conference finals this season.

Howard said he would let USA Basketball know of his intentions "soon."

"I don't know right now," he said.

USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo has said he expects players who want to compete in the London Games in 2012 to also play this summer.

But James and Wade have indicated they might not play because of various summer plans. Both are expected to be free agents July 1, along with fellow 2008 Olympian Chris Bosh, and that could also make them unavailable.

The world championships will be held in Turkey from Aug. 28 to Sept. 12.
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