Report: San Antonio Spurs deny Manu Ginobili permission to play in World Cup

The San Antonio Spurs have reportedly denied Manu Ginobili permission to play for Argentina at the FIBA Basketball World Cup.

The veteran guard is recovering from a stress fracture in his right leg and as a result the Spurs have asked him to rest over the summer in order to let the injury fully heal.

Ginobili played through the injury during the NBA Finals and is expected to be sidelined for up to two months, which would fail to give him sufficient time before the tournament starts, the San Antonio Express-News reports.

The 37-year-old helped lead San Antonio to an NBA championship last season and will be expected to play a key role in their defence next year.