Walter Herrmann, an Argentine with the Charlotte Bobcats, said Tuesday he won't compete in Olympic qualifying for his country for fear of injuries that could threaten his NBA career.
Herrmann's announcement came a day after San Antonio guard Manu Ginobili announced he wouldn't play for Argentina during qualifying. But Ginobili does plan to play when the national team defends its championship at the Beijing Games in 2008.
Herrmann told Argentine sports daily Ole he wasn't expressly barred by the Bobcats from playing, but he didn't want to run the risk of injury.
"It took a lot of effort to make the NBA, and I have to think in the future," Herrmann told Ole.
Fabricio Oberto, another Argentine playing for the Spurs, also bowed out of the qualifying season.