German basketball star Dirk Nowitzki has pulled out of the upcoming FIBA World Championship.
Nowitzki's withdrawal to focus on preparing for the new NBA season after signing a new deal with the Dallas Mavericks is a major blow to the hopes of the wild-card entrant.
Nowitzki had said he would play when Germany were first awarded a place at the championships, but has now pledged to play in next year's EuroBasket tournament to help Germany try to secure a place at the 2012 London Olympics.
Nowitzki says he believes Germany are good enough to contend without him but the German Basketball Federation have admitted that his fellow NBA star Chris Kaman of the Los Angeles Clippers may now also be in doubt.
