SAN ANTONIO - Concerns are growing among top San Antonio Spurs officials over guard Manu Ginobili's plans to play for Argentina in the Olympics.

San Antonio Spurs guard Manu Ginobili celebrates after scoring against the New Orleans Hornets in the 4th quarter of Game 3 of their Western Conference semi-final NBA basketball playoff series in San Antonio, Texas May 8, 2008. [Agencies]

Ginobili is nursing a badly sprained ankle and told Argentine media on Wednesday that doctors have told him the ankle injury was worse than he thought. He said he must immobilize the ankle for 3-4 weeks, but that he still hopes to play for Argentina.

He told the reporters that he will have new MRI tests in San Antonio next month.

Coach Gregg Popovich said he hopes his star sixth man gives serious consideration to sitting out the Beijing Games.

"My concern is that it's going to get worse. He's got to seriously consider his health," Popovich told the San Antonio Express-News for a story in its online edition on Wednesday.