1st NBA player seriously injured in this year's international play

Here's the complete article in English from ACB.com:


Raul Lopez definitely out of the World Championships because of Injury

Raul Lopez will miss out of the World Championships in Indianapolis because of an injury to his right knee that occurred Saturday against Russia. Lopez suffered the partial tear of his ACL according to this morning’s MRI results. It is unknown how long the recovery time will be nor if it will require surgery. His substitute will be Jose Manuel Calderon, who will join the national team Monday in Torrelavega.

Estepona (Málaga), 18 ago. 2002 (EFE).- The point guard Raúl López will sit out the Basketball World Championships in Indianápolis because of the seriousness of injury suffered last night to his right knee, this was confirmed today by the team docotorn José Nogales.

Nogales commented that the player suffered "a partial tear of the ACL" of his right knee as confirmed by this morning by the results of an MRI.

The player from Vic was injured last night in a match between the teams from España y Rusia, in the final of the Trofeo Internacional de Baloncesto V Centenario de Estepona, that was won (78-61) by the team coached by Javier Imbroda.

During a play in the game, when Raúl López rushed to defend a three point shot by Karassev, the point guard hooked his leg with the Russian player and fell akwardly, bending his knee.

This morning , Raúl López has stopped concentrating on the Spanish national team, he will be replaced by José Manuel Calderón, who will where the number 13 on his back which had belonged to Raúl López.

The outsider point guard (Calderon) who was cut from the team last Wednesday by Javier Imbroda, will be reinstated to the team substituting for the guard from Vic (Lopez). Calderón, has been a preparing for the preseason with will join the national team Monday in Torrevalga where the team will leave Tueday for a tournament with Croacia, Lituania y Australia
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Well actually he is not in the NBA yet, but the Jazz do own his rights and were hoping to sign this talented player.

When a thing like this happens, Cuban doesn't look so dumb afterall. I bet the Jazz owner wish he had tried a little more to keep his player out of competition.