Kleiza will play in Olympics for Lithuania

By Chris Tomasson, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published April 30, 2008 at 8:48 a.m.
Updated April 30, 2008 at 10:41 a.m.

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Nuggets forward Linas Kleiza has confirmed his intention to play for his native Lithuania in this summer’s Olympics.

“Yeah, definitely I’m going to play,’’ Kleiza told the Rocky Mountain News. “Something like that is going to be special.’’

Kleiza had said earlier this year that, because of a lingering left ankle injury, there was a chance he might not play. But he said his ankle is feeling good enough that he wouldn’t risk further injury.

Kleiza is in line to be one of two Nuggets players in the Olympics. Team USA managing director Jerry Colangelo has told the Rocky that forward Carmelo Anthony is a “main, key player’’ and all but a lock for the Olympics, Aug. 8-24 in Beijing.

Lithuania and Team USA won’t meet in the Olympics preliminary round, with the former in Group A and the latter in Group B. However, Kleiza expects both teams to advance, setting up a meeting with Anthony in an elimination game.

“Oh, yeah,’’ Kleiza said. “We’re going to meet up eventually. It happens.’’

Nuggets forward Nene also has a chance to play in the Olympics. His native Brazil is among 12 teams trying to earn one of three final berths in the July 14-20 Olympic qualifying tournament in Greece.

Nene, who missed 2 1/2 months at midseason because of testicular cancer, has interest in playing in the tournament but says the decision is up to the Nuggets. Vice president of basketball operations Mark Warkentien said recently that that was something too early to ponder.

France has no chance to be in the Olympics, having been eliminated last September. However, Nuggets guard Yakhouba Diawara said he is considering playing for France in a European Championships qualifying tournament in September.

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