Pau Gasol says he wants to play in Rio Olympics despite Zika

Darren Hauck / AP

Chicago Bulls center Pau Gasol looks up Sunday, April 3, 2016, as the Milwaukee Bucks take a free throw during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Milwaukee. Gasol says he is considering not playing at the Olympics because of the Zika virus. The Spanish basketball player says there is too much uncertainty about the situation in Brazil and anyone going to Rio de Janeiro for the games should “think about” whether it’s worth the risk.

Saturday, June 25, 2016 | 6:50 a.m.

MADRID — Chicago Bulls star Pau Gasol says he wants to play in the Rio de Janeiro Olympics despite concerns over the Zika virus.

The 35-year-old center announced in an article for Spanish newspaper Marca on Saturday that he's available for the Spanish national team in what will be his fourth Olympics.

Gasol said last month he was considering not playing in Rio because there was too much uncertainty about Zika. He later said he was considering freezing a sperm sample.

The mosquito-borne disease has been linked to severe birth defects in infants born to infected women.

Two-time silver medalist Gasol called Zika "a serious issue" and said it was his duty to make people aware of it.