LJUBLJANA (FIBA Basketball World Cup) - It's going to be a strange feeling for the passionate basketball fans of Slovenia when they watch their team compete at this summer's FIBA Basketball World Cup in Spain.

For the first time in a very long time, point guard Jaka Lakovic will not be in the lineup.

The captain, an ever-present in the side since EuroBasket 2001, has decided to retire from the international game.

In all, he competed in two FIBA World Championships (2006 and 2010), seven EuroBaskets (2001, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013) and the 2008 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT).

His final games in the national team shirt were played in front of crowds in Celje and Ljubljana, with Slovenia serving as hosts of last year's EuroBasket.

Lakovic, who averaged 10.2 points per game for Sidigas Avellino in Italy's Lega A this season, said in a statement issued by his country's basketball federation: "After careful consideration and looking at the whole season, I came to the the realization that my body is no longer so young and needs more time for regeneration, also preparing for the new season at the club, which is why I decided EuroBasket 2013 was my last time with the team."

"I think I ended my national team career in the best possible way - on the home court.

"My heart has always been and always will be with the Slovenian national team and its fans, who will be with me forever and remain an exceptional memory. I want to take this opportunity to thank you for all the support."

Lakovic never realized his dream of winning a medal at a EuroBasket or another competition, yet one needs to put his impact on Slovenian basketball in the right context.

A small country with a population of just over two million inhabitants that was once part of Yugoslavia, Slovenia didn't qualify for a FIBA World Championship until they played at the EuroBasket in Serbia and Montenegro in 2005.

Their 89-80 triumph over Croatia in a Classification Round game sealed their spot in the 24-team World Championship in Japan the next year.

Lakovic led all players with 20 points in the win over the Croatians in Belgrade.

After that game, he and his Slovenia teammates went to the center of the court, locked arms and then raised them in a big salute to the fans.

It was as if they had won a gold medal.

In their 90-82 triumph over Puerto Rico on 23 of August, 2006 to clinch a place in the last 16 of the FIBA World Championship in Japan, Lakovic made six three-pointers and finished with 24 points.

He had a lot of big games.

In the 88-74 victory over France at EuroBasket 2007 which decided seventh place and gave Slovenia the last berth for the 2008 OQT, Lakovic erupted for 26 points.

There were other outstanding displays by Lakovic that not only excited the Slovenia fans, but also his teammates.

One of them was Goran Dragic, the 28-year-old Phoenix Suns guard who is now Slovenia's most famous player.

He said at last year's EuroBasket that Lakovic had been inspirational.

Lakovic has now officially handed the baton to Dragic, and also created an opening for another youngster to make this year's team.

The director of the country's national teams, Matej Avanzo, says Lakovic embodied everything that is Slovenian, citing "his infectious fighting spirit, intransigence, fighting to the last atom of strength…"

Lakovic, who turns 36 in July, is also one of the greats in Euroleague history after playing in a combined 218 games for KRKA Novo Mesto, Panathinaikos, Barcelona and Galatasaray.

He is the third all-time leading scorer in the competition with 2,524 points.

In 2010, he won the Euroleague with Barcelona.

Lakovic will keep tabs on Slovenia at the FIBA Basketball World Cup, where they will compete in Group D against Lithuania, Australia, Angola, Mexico and Korea.

FIBA