Anderson Varejao out of Olympics with back injury

Warriors big man Anderson Varejaowill miss the upcoming Olympics in his native Brazil due to a back injury, Golden State confirmed Wednesday.

The Warriors saidVarejao had an examination earlier this week in the Los Angeles area by noted back specialist Dr. Robert Watkins, who diagnosed him with a small lower back disk herniation.

The injury is not expected to threaten Varejao's availability for next season, sources previously told ESPN's Marc Stein, after the 33-year-old recently re-signed a one-year deal to return to the Warriors.

But the prospect of missing the Summer Games in his own country surely comes as a major disappointment to the fiercely patriotic 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 will also come as a blow to the host country's medal hopes, asAtlanta Hawks center Tiago Splitter is also unavailable through injury.