Brazilian basketball player Leandrinho said Sunday that he fears a needed surgery may impede him from participating in the Pre-Olympic games in Athens in July.
Brazil men's basketball team has yet to classify for the Beijing Olympic Games. There are three spots left. However, with a problem in his right knee, Leandrinho may be sidelined.
The Brazilian is a member of the NBA team, the Phoenix Suns. In addition to his fears of not being able to participate in the Pre-Olympic and possibly the Beijing Olympic Games, the athlete is scared that the procedure will keep him off the floor for the next NBA season.
His teammate at Phoenix, Amare Stoudamire, went through with the same surgery that Leandrinho is contemplating, as resulted in the player being unable to play for nearly a whole season.
"I have already injured my right knee. It's due to the number of games and the wear and tear. I am a little scared of undergoing surgery. I have never had to go through with an operation and I am not sure what I should do. The doctors told me that I may have to stay a whole season without playing so that I can fully recover. I don't want to have to sit out for so long," said the player.
The Brazilian national team, coached by the Spaniard Moncho Monsalve, is scheduled to meet as a team on the 8th of June. The coach warned that if anyone does not show up to the team meeting that they will not be able to continue as a member of the Brazilian national team.
Leandrinho has another consultation on the 12th of June. Therefore, Monsalve is hopeful that Leandrinho will be able to appear at the team meeting and then head back to Phoenix where he will receive another evaluation on his condition.
"If I don't have to go through surgery, I will be there. There is still plenty of time and I am hopeful. It is not like I want to leave the national team behind and not participate. To the contrary. I love to wear the national team's jersey. If there is nothing wrong with my knee, I will be there," added Leandrinho.
(Xinhua News Agency May 26, 2008)