Pau Gasol plans to play in the European Championships held in Spain next summer, as he is confident the Grizzlies will allow him to play. Gasol has recently had surgery on a broken metatarsal in his left foot, an injury that was suffered in international play.

"The Grizzlies know how important it is for me to play for my country, and I don't think they would try and stop me because it isn't in their interests.

"This injury has been waiting to happen for a long time, and could just as easily have happened in December. The fact it has happened now has been viewed favourably by some people."