MADRID, Spain (AP) -- Jorge Garbajosa chose Spain's Olympic team over the Toronto Raptors and the NBA - and his patriotism has come at a steep price.

The Spanish basketball federation agreed to pay the Raptors $4.25 million to buy out the final year of Garbajosa's contract and he has since signed a contract with a Russian professional team.

The forward said tossing away his NBA career is worth it for a chance to lead Spain to a medal.

"The Spanish team is something very special to me,'' Garbajosa said.

The 31-year-old's decision to stick with Spain didn't endear him with many of the NBA's general managers and he said he had contact with just one team before signing with BC Khimki.

The Madrid native has no regrets over a decision that left him temporarily unemployed.

"I'm very happy about how things worked out and I appreciate what was done for me, which I think was the best thing,'' he said. "It was a complicated year so I want to enjoy and take advantage of my basketball now.''

Garbajosa joined the Raptors in 2006-07, and a promising season - in which he made the NBA's all-rookie team - ended prematurely after he broke his leg and dislocated an ankle during a game.

Garbajosa was still on the mend when he played for Spain in last year's European Championship against the Raptors' recommendation and only after the Spanish federation took out a $1 million insurance policy on him.

He played only seven games last season for the Raptors before tests showed his injury wasn't fully healed, and then he underwent season-ending surgery.

Garbajosa's insistence on returning to Spain against the Raptors' wishes only accelerated the buyout.

"It was a difficult year, but I feel really good,'' Garbajosa said. "I lost a lot of my rhythm with so much time off, since I wasn't really healthy with all of these problems. We have a lot of days before the start of the games so I think I will be fine.''

Former Raptors teammate Jose Calderon was "delighted'' that Garbajosa, who has 123 appearances for Spain since his international debut in 2000, is coming to Beijing.

"Now it's time to turn the page and move forward after a bad year,'' he said. "A deal has been reached by both sides, and if both are happy, I'm with him till death.''

Though Garbajosa said that he'll always be grateful to Toronto's fans, his relationship with his native land dates farther back.

"When I was a kid I wasn't fan of (Spanish clubs) Real Madrid or Barcelona, or of any team,'' Garbajosa said. "I followed the Spanish team and a couple of years ago I was able to join and I am here and they can always count on me.''