BASKETBALL IN EUROPE

'La Bomba' Navarro, who has been playing non-stop for club and country for the last 12 years,  will at least get a -rare- oppurtunity for an extended rest due to his injury

EuroBasket 2011 MVP Juan Carlos Navarro, a contender for the FIBA Europe Player of the Year award, will miss between three and four weeks of action with Regal Barcelona because of plantar fasciitis in his left foot.

The 31-year-old, who averaged 18.7 points in Lithuania and shot 44.7% (34 of 76) from behind the arc, will have to sit and watch his team play against Galatasaray in the Turkish Airlines Euroleague on Wednesday night.

Barcelona have already booked a trip to the Top 16 of that competition.

Spain is still buzzing about Navarro's big performance this summer in Lithuania that helped the national team not only defend its European title but also qualify for a fourth consecutive Olympics.

Navarro has had a lot of big moments in his career but his three-game stretch to finish the EuroBasket may have been the best of all.

In wins over Slovenia (Quarter-Finals), F.Y.R. of Macedonia (Semi-Finals) and France (Final), Navarro had 26, 35 and 27 points, respectively.

He buried a combined 12 of his 24 shots from long range in those games.

In a recent interview with fibaeurope.com in Spain, Navarro was asked about the MVP award.

"My life hasn't changed that much," he said.

"It seems that now, more people know me more than before but it's been a couple of years that I've been doing things well.

"But without a doubt, to win the MVP was a very important achievement in my career."