Lakers forward Gasol to skip World Championships

MADRID – Los Angeles Lakers' Spanish forward Pau Gasol said Tuesday he will skip the basketball World Championships in Turkey later this year because he needs a rest.

"This year I have suffered two major muscle injuries, the first in my career, and I firmly believe it is time to rest," he said in a statement posted on his official website.

"I think the best is to choose an appropriate time to rest first rather than your body decides for you at the most inopportune time," the 29-year-old added.

"I regret this decision, but in the last four years I'm probably one of the players who have played more games in the world, having reached the finals of all the disputed contests with the Lakers and Spain. Now my body is calling for a temporary relief."

Gasol, who helped the Lakers reach their 12th finals series against the Boston Celtics for the National Basketball Association championship, said he hoped to be a part of the Spanish national basketball team in the future.

Spain are in a tough group along with France, Lithuania, New Zealand, Canada and Lebanon, at World Championships, which will be held in Turkey August 28 through September 12.

Gasol joins a growing list of NBA stars who will miss the worlds due to physical problems.

France's Tony Parker and Argentina's Manu Ginobili, who both play for the San Antonio Spurs, have already announced that they will skip the tournament due to injury as have France's Ronny Turiaf of the Golden State Warriors and Australia's Andrew Bogut of the Milwaukee Bucks.