Pacers' Jasikevicius to skip Worlds
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- Indiana Pacers guard Sarunas Jasikevicius has elected not to join the Lithuanian national team for the world championships in August.
The 30-year-old point guard has been the top player in his country for years. The FIBA Web site listed him on Lithuania's preliminary roster, and he was invited to next month's training camp.
Jasikevicius' agent, Doug Neustadt, didn't give a reason Wednesday for why his client opted against playing in the tournament Aug. 19-Sept. 3 in Japan.
"He just told me the end result," Neustadt said. "The only thing I know is he's not going to play this year."
Neustadt said Jasikevicius is to marry Linor Abargil, a former Miss World from Israel, on July 6 in Barcelona, Spain. The couple will have another ceremony days later in Tel Aviv, Israel.
Pacers management has said Jasikevicius became tired late during his first NBA season because the former Euroleague star wasn't used to playing the 82-game NBA season and playoffs.
Neustadt said Jasikevicius has not said anything about being tired.
Jasikevicius led Lithuania to bronze medals in the 2000 and 2004 Olympics. He scored 28 points in Lithuania's upset win over the United States during the 2004 games.
Calls to the Lithuanian national team seeking comment were unanswered.
