Serbia center Darko Milicic will not play for the national team this summer because of an achilles tendon injury.

The Memphis Grizzlies big man has been with the squad this summer and even travelled to Nanjing, China, for the FIBA Diamond Ball Men but did not play in any of the games, with the Serbians losing to Iran and Argentina but beating Angola.

"Since July 20, Milicic has been undergoing intense therapy, and we've done our best to bring him back to full training," said Serbia coach Dusan Ivkovic.

"He even travelled with the squad to tournaments in Moscow and Nanjing, but the latest MRI scans and his constant pain were more than enough for us to decide that it is in his best interest not to be at our preparations anymore."

Milicic averaged 7.2 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game last season with Memphis.

Serbia will be taking on Italy, Hungary, Finland and Bulgaria in their EuroBasket 2009 qualifying campaign.

"We are just three weeks away from our first game in the qualifications, and it was obvious that Milicic wouldn't be in good enough form for those games," Ivkovic said.

"Therefore, we'll have to find some other solutions at center position."