SAO PAULO, Brazil—Brazil’s chances at making the Olympics in basketball were hurt after Denver Nuggets’ forward Nene said injuries would keep him off the team.
That blow came just a few days after another Brazilian NBA player—Anderson Varejao of the Cleveland Cavaliers—said he, too, wouldn’t be able to play because of an injuries received in the eastern conference semifinals against Boston.
The Nuggets’ team doctor Steven Traina sent a letter Friday to the Brazilian Basketball Confederation explaining that Nene would require more time to recover after treatment for testicular cancer and other injuries.
The Brazilian side was hoping for the presence of both Nene and Varejao for the Olympic qualifying tournament next month in Athens.
“This has been a difficult season for me,” Nene said. “Not only on the technical side, but the emotional as well.”
Brazil has not qualified for the Olympics in basketball since 1996.
