HoopsHype.com Rumors

Pablo Prigioni: "I always play in the summer with the Argentina national team, but I haven't decided if I will do that this year." ESPN.com

FIBA, Argentina, Pablo Prigioni 

Andres Nocioni's contract with Laboral Kutxa will expire after this season. The Argentinean forward admitted that he will play one more year in Spain and the team should be, again, Baskonia. "I may finish my career in Argentina but for now I will play one more year in Spain" said Nocioni, as reported by Gigantes. Sportando

Spain, Andres Nocioni, Argentina 

Matias Traversa: Argentinian coach Julio Lamas said in press conference that Manu Ginobili, Andres Nocioni and Leo Gutierrez won't play in Fiba Americas Twitter

San Antonio Spurs, Manu Ginobili, FIBA, Andres Nocioni, Argentina 

Rafa Muntion: Pablo Prigioni: "Future. I will make the call. Next year I could continue in the NBA, go to Europe or even end up in Argentina." Twitter

New York Knicks, Free Agency, Argentina, Europe, Pablo Prigioni 

Emiliano Carchia: Fabricio Oberto returns to action and signed today his contract with Atenas according to @rickyvazquez10 Twitter @SportandoBasket

Argentina, Fabricio Oberto 

On national team coach Julio Lamas' recent visit to the United States to see Argentina's NBA players, he visited with Pablo Prigioni (New York), Luis Scola (Phoenix) and Carlos Delfino (Houston). He did not meet up with Ginobili in San Antonio. "Manu will not play in 2013," Lamas said. "He told me. So I think we should leave him alone. I have to worry about those who go. "It's not that I do not follow him because I see him play (on television) all the time. "But again, I have to assemble the team of Caracas." FIBA.com

Milwaukee Bucks, New York Knicks, Phoenix Suns, San Antonio Spurs, Carlos Delfino, Luis Scola, Argentina, Pablo Prigioni 

Andres Nocioni: (The group of old guys at the Argentinean National Team) has a future. We're still going to compete. Most of them will stay and there will be no big changes. I saw that most of the guys have made the decision to continue playing. I hope the group remains to give it one more try. I wish we have another chance at the World Championship in Spain. Ole

Andres Nocioni, Argentina, World Championship 

Luis Scola: This tournament is not a farewell. Basquet Plus

Luis Scola, Argentina, Olympics 

Buck Harvey: Among words used by @Manu Ginobili after losing bronze: "Deep wound ... won't sleep ... bitter taste ... worked 10 years to be in this game." Twitter

Manu Ginobili, Argentina, Olympics 

Marc Stein: Argentines RAGE at end after late no-calls led to clinching Russia hoop but they've had GREAT run for a decade. Missing Manu w/NT already Twitter

Argentina, Olympics 

"They are masters, phenomenal, they play over the basket," Argentina swingman Carlos Delfino said. "When they are [hot], they are unbeatable." ESPN.com

Carlos Delfino, USA Basketball, Team USA, Argentina, Olympics 

Manu Ginobili said he and his teammates know they aren’t as good as the United States. “We know our limitations,” he said, and Luis Scola took that further. “You don’t need to be smart to know that,” he said, smiling. That’s why they care about Sunday’s bronze-medal game as much as the Americans will care about their gold one. “If bronze is the highest we can aim,” said Ginobili, “that’s our game.” San Antonio Express-News

Phoenix Suns, San Antonio Spurs, Manu Ginobili, Luis Scola, Argentina, Olympics 

Manu Ginobili is unsure if he will continue playing for Argentina after these Olympics. Ginobili said Friday he doesn't know how he will feel in two years for the next World Cup of Basketball, or even if he will still be playing at all. "A lot of things can happen. I'm 35. I know the chances are less every year, but I can't say I am retiring because I don't know," Ginobili said. NBA.com

Manu Ginobili, Argentina, Olympics 

Frank Isola: New Knicks point guard Pablo Prigioni on Carmelo detonating in the third quarter: "I hope he shoots like this during the whole season." Twitter

New York Knicks, Carmelo Anthony, USA Basketball, Team USA, Argentina, Olympics, Pablo Prigioni 

Furthering the ill will, Campazzo said Team USA point guard Chris Paul threw a punch at him in the first half. To which Paul responded, “Which time?’’ “We’re ready for it,’’ Anthony said of the rough play. “We know what’s at stake. We know they’re going to throw everything at us. And they’re in the way of our journey. We know what’s at stake. [Tonight] will be as big a game as we’ll ever play. “This is August Madness, having two games left.’’ New York Post

Chris Paul, Carmelo Anthony, Team USA, Argentina, Olympics 

Argentina must play a perfect game against the latest United States' Dream Team to reach Sunday's final of the Olympic tournament and even then it may not be enough, Argentina's coach and team leader said on Wednesday. "The odds are against us. We have a 10 percent or even a five percent chance of winning but we are going to fight for this," San Antonio Spurs guard Manu Ginobili said after driving his team past Brazil and into the semi-finals. Yahoo! Sports

San Antonio Spurs, Manu Ginobili, USA Basketball, Argentina, Olympics 

It took an avalanche of long-distance buckets from three-time NBA scoring champion Kevin Durant to relieve the pressure on the Americans and turn a one-point game at half time into a 126-97 win. "We'll take the same approach," Ginobili said. "We are going to try and turn the ball over less. Make a few shots in the second half and don't let them run. Then if they get inspired and LeBron (James) or Kobe Bryant or someone get hot and hit 20 threes like they did in the last game, then there's nothing you can do." Yahoo! Sports

San Antonio Spurs, Manu Ginobili, USA Basketball, Argentina, Olympics 

The U.S. men’s basketball team faces Argentina Friday night in the Olympics semifinals at North Greenwich Arena and bad blood still festers from Saturday’s showdown during which Anthony was belted in the groin by Argentina backup point guard Facundo Campazzo. Prigioni, battling a kidney stone that has weakened him, rested during that game, but stuck up for his countryman after Anthony — and Tyson Chandler — called Campazzo’s actions “a cheap shot.’’ “I don’t know, this is part of the game,’’ Prigioni told The Post. New York Post

New York Knicks, USA Basketball, Argentina, Olympics, Pablo Prigioni, Facundo Campazzo 

Krzyzewski has made a big deal of saying Argentina is a different team with Prigioni. But Prigioni said he’s just “70 percent’’ after having missed two games in this Olympic tournament with his ailment. In the Argentines’ quarterfinal victory over Brazil, he shot just 2 of 8. “I hope ... to be a little more [healthy],’’ said Prigioni, who is on medication. “The worst of it is it takes all my energy.’’ This will be the third meeting between the teams in 16 days, with America winning an exhibition in Barcelona by six points before Saturday’s 29-point victory. “It’s more of a challenge [to beat them three times], but we have a game plan,’’ said LeBron James, who posted a triple double in the win over Australia. “We’ll learn from our mistakes.’’ Argentina is flush with veterans who likely are making their Olympic swan song. “It definitely changes their approach, they could be going into their last game together internationally,’’ Anthony said. “ Just think of if you were playing your last game, the type of energy you’d bring.’’ New York Post

New York Knicks, USA Basketball, Argentina, Olympics, Pablo Prigioni 

For a third straight Olympics, the U.S. men will be facing Argentina. LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony were on the team that lost to Argentina in 2004 and they beat Argentina four years ago. "We're ready for it,'' said Anthony before the U.S. walked through its rotations on the eve of their rematch. "We know what's at stake. We know that they're going to throw everything at us and they're in our way of our journey, which is the gold medal.'' SI.com

LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, USA Basketball, Team USA, Argentina, Olympics