The Spanish selection of 18 players to prepare for the Olympic Games in Tokyo (July 23 – August 8) was announced on Saturday by the Spanish Basketball Federation. Pau Gasol (40), crowned Spanish champion with FC Barcelona on Tuesday, will make his return. The pivot, who spent 20 seasons in the NBA, was unable to compete in the 2019 World Cup due to injury. He could play his 4th Olympic Games, after winning silver in Beijing in 2008 and London in 2012, and bronze in Rio de Janeiro in 2016.
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His brother Marc Gasol (Los Angeles Lakers), Ricky Rubio (Minnesota Timberwolves) are on the list, as are ghosts Sergio Rodriguez and Alex Abrines, who have been absent for four years. Youngsters Usman Garuba (Real Madrid) and Sergi Martinez (Barcelona) are called up for the first time in this list of 18, which will be reduced to 12 in Japan.
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Reigning world champion, Spain will try to win Olympic gold, which has always eluded them. It has reached three finals in its history (1984, 2008, 2012), without ever winning a single one. In 2016, at the last Olympics in Rio, she walked away with the bronze medal.
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