Spurs' Ginobili '98 percent' sure he won't play for Argentina again

The San Antonio Spurs invoked a clause last month that prevents veteran Manu Ginobili from participating in the World Cup tournament beginning Aug. 30.

The 37-year-old told Buenos Aires daily La Nacion that he's resigned to the fact he won't be representing the country again in international play. Ginobili is dealing with the lingering effects of a stress fracture, and originally thought he'd retire from the international circuit after the London Olympic Games in 2012.

"Today, I can say for almost certain, 98%, that I won't play any more [for Argentina]," he said in the interview published Saturday.

Ginobili said his leg starts to hurt when he jumps, pushes, or brakes on the floor. Normally, he's not experiencing the discomfort.

"If I'd played this tournament it would have been the last, that's sure," Ginobili said. "It's hard and it always will be to retire from this [Argentina] team."