While some NBA players are eyeing the overseas market for a place to play next season during the lockout, others will be shipping out across the globe to play for their countries.
The 2012 Olympic Games are a year away, which means qualifying tournaments are upon us. Numerous national teams will descend upon Mar del Plata, Argentina, Lithuania, and Melbourne, Australia, in late August and September for the FIBA Americas, European and Oceania Basketball Championships. The top two teams in the Americas and European tournaments and the winner of the Oceania games are guaranteed a spot in the London Games next summer.
Some noteworthy names may be forced to sit out if their countries are unable to offer them insurance while locked out of their NBA contracts. But here's a look at some of the familiar faces that will, according to reports, participate:
More player movement: Overseas player tracker
ARGENTINA
Tournament: Americas Championship
2010 Worlds: Finished fifth
Notable participants:
AUSTRALIA
Tournament: Oceania Championship
2010 Worlds: Lost in Round of 16
Notable participants:
BRAZIL
Tournament: Americas Championship
2010 Worlds: Lost in Round of 16
Notable participants:
CANADA
Tournament: Americas Championship
2010 Worlds: Eliminated in preliminary round
Notable participants:
CHINA
Tournament: Stankovic Continental Cup
2010 Worlds: Lost in Round of 16
Notable participants:
CROATIA
Tournament: European Championship
2010 Worlds: Lost in Round of 16
Notable participants:
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
Tournament: Americas Championship
2010 Worlds: Did not qualify
Notable participants:
FRANCE
Tournament: European Championship
2010 Worlds: Lost in Round of 16
Notable participants:
GEORGIA
Tournament: European Championship
2010 Worlds: Did not qualify
Notable participants:
GERMANY
Tournament: European Championship
2010 Worlds: Eliminated in preliminary round
Notable participants:
GREAT BRITAIN
Tournament: European Championship
2010 Worlds: Did not qualify
Notable participants:
GREECE
Tournament: European Championship
2010 Worlds: Lost in Round of 16
Notable participants:
ITALY
Tournament: European Championship
2010 Worlds: Did not qualify
Notable participants:
LATVIA
Tournament: European Championship
2010 Worlds: Did not qualify
Notable participants:
LITHUANIA
Tournament: European Championship
2010 Worlds: Finished third
Notable participants:
MONTENEGRO
Tournament: European Championship
2010 Worlds: Did not qualify
Notable participants:
NETHERLANDS
Tournament: European Championship (Division B)
2010 Worlds: Did not qualify
Notable participants:
PANAMA
Tournament: Americas Championship
2010 Worlds: Did not qualify
Notable participants:
PUERTO RICO
Tournament: Americas Championship
2010 Worlds: Eliminated in preliminary round
Notable participants:
RUSSIA
Tournament: European Championship
2010 Worlds: Finished seventh
Notable participants:
SERBIA
Tournament: European Championship
2010 Worlds: Finished fourth
Notable participants:
SLOVENIA
Tournament: European Championship
2010 Worlds: Finished eighth
Notable participants:
SPAIN
Tournament: European Championship
2010 Worlds: Finished sixth
Notable participants:
TURKEY
Tournament: European Championship
2010 Worlds: Finished second
Notable participants:
UKRAINE
Tournament: European Championship
2010 Worlds: Did not qualify
Notable participants:
VENEZUELA
Tournament: Americas Championship
2010 Worlds: Did not qualify
Notable participants:
More player movement: Overseas player tracker »
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