German NBA star Dirk Nowitzki will be fit to play again for German national basketball team in a July qualifying tournament for the Beijing Olympics, Germany coach Dirk Bauermann said on Tuesday.

"I am optimistic and have not the slightest fear that Dirk will be missing in Athens," Bauermann said in reference to the July 14-20 qualifying event in the Greek capital.

The Dallas Mavericks announced on Monday that Nowitzki was sidelined indefinitely with a high left ankle sprain and a mildly sprained left knee suffered in the third quarter of Sunday's 88-81 loss to the defending NBA Champion San Antonio Spurs.

The league's reigning Most Valuable Player underwent an MRI on Monday and currently is walking in a protective boot without crutches.

Bauermann said that the incident "looked really bad" and that he was in contact with Nowitzki.

(Xinhua News Agency March 26, 2008)