Warriors big man Anderson Varejao will miss the upcoming Olympics in his native Brazil due to a back injury, Golden State confirmed Wednesday.
The Warriors said back specialist Dr. Robert Watkins examined Varejao earlier this week in the Los Angeles area and diagnosed him with a small disk herniation in his lower back.
The injury is not expected to threaten Varejao's availability for next season, sources previously told ESPN after he signed a one-year deal to return to the Warriors.
The prospect of missing the Summer Games in his own country surely comes as a major disappointment to Varejao, who -- along with Phoenix Suns guard Leandro Barbosa, Houston Rockets big man Nene Hilario and Los Angeles Lakers guard Marcelo Huertas -- has been a mainstay of his country's national team for years.
Losing Varejao, 33, will also come as a blow to the host country's medal hopes. Atlanta Hawks center Tiago Splitter is also unavailable because of injury.