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Utah Jazz center Andris Biedrins has decided not to represent Latvia this summer at Eurobasket in Slovenia.
Hot on the heels of Latvia’s success at the under-20 Sportland European Championships, the men’s squad assembled for training camp last Thursday with Biedrins’ name crossed out as absent. The 27-year-old then confirmed to Latvian sports outlet ‘basket.lv’ that he will be spending this summer focusing on rejuvenating his NBA career with the Jazz.
Biedrins was originally named in coach Ainars Bagatskis’ squad for training camp and the signs looked good – as he appeared in Tallinn, Estonia to support his nation to victory over Italy in the under-20 European Championships. Biedrins was also spotted with Latvian team-mate Kaspars Berzins in the Estonian capital, leading to speculation that the two would make the trip to Latvia for training camp.
The NBA center last appeared for the national side at Eurobasket 2009 in Poland.
The plus point for coach Bagatskis is that members of the under-20 side that won the European Championship are ready to help out of needed.
Latvia are housed in Group B at Eurobasket, alongside neighbours Lithuania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro in Jesenice.
