Manu Ginobili is "somewhere between questionable to probable" for the Spurs' season opener Tuesday, coach Gregg Popovich told the San Antonio Express-News.

Ginobli suffered a right quadriceps bruise in practice on Saturday and missed practice Sunday because of the pain.

"He got whacked pretty good," Popovich told the paper. "We'll see how he is [Tuesday]."

The Spurs announced that they have waived guards Stephen Graham, Melvin Sanders and forward Sharrod Ford.

Graham appeared in seven preseason games where he averaged 5.4 points and 1.7 rebounds.

Sanders averaged 6.3 points and 2.6 rebounds in seven preseason contests.

Ford appeared in all eight Spurs preseason games and averaged 4.9 points and 2.5 rebounds.

The Spurs roster now stands at 13.

The San Antonio Spurs are the preseason favorites to win the 2005-2006 NBA championship according to an NBA.com survey of the league's general managers.

The Spurs received 77 percent of the vote among the approximately 25 GMs who responded. That percentage is the highest a team has received in the four years the survey has been conducted. The defending champions got 96 percent of the vote to win the Western Conference and 100 percent to win the Southwest Division.

Calling the rules "quite liberal and easygoing," David Stern even joked that the dress code is something that "even [Dallas Mavericks owner] Mark Cuban can comply with." But Cuban, who often wears T-shirts and jeans to games, told ESPN.com that there was "no chance, no way" that he would comply with the league's off-the-court dress code for its players. Sleeveless shirts are not allowed under the policy.

Indiana Pacers guard Stephen Jackson, contending that a league ban on chains worn over clothing is "a racist statement" from the league, wore every long, diamond-studded chain in his collection Tuesday night as a protest.

Jackson voiced no opposition to the bulk of the "business casual" demands in the NBA's new dress code, but he described the jewelry ban as "attacking young black males."

"I think it's a racist statement because a lot of the guys who are wearing chains are my age and are black," said Jackson, 27. "I wore all my jewelry today to let it be known that I'm upset with it.

"I'll wear a suit every day. I think we do need to look more professional because it is a business. A lot of guys have gotten sloppy with the way they dress. But it's one thing to [enforce a] dress code and it's another thing if you're attacking cultures, and that's what I think they're doing."

San Antonio's Tim Duncan, far less vocal but also a critic of the new policy, did not play in Tuesday's game and sat on the bench wearing an untucked shirt and baggy jeans -- attire that could result in a fine if seen during a regular-season game.

The Grizzlies have played exhibition games outside the continental U.S. on two occasions over the past three years.

Although a decision is far from final, they could spend most of the 2006 training camp far away from Memphis.

Earlier this year, NBA commissioner David Stern revealed plans to have four or five NBA teams hold training camp in Europe. The league has since surveyed its teams and received great interest from those willing -- including the Grizzlies -- to conduct a camp overseas.

Stern already suggested Paris and Barcelona as prime locations because of their professional basketball-quality operations and facilities. The Grizzlies could then become attractive because of Spaniard Pau Gasol. San Antonio, with French guard Tony Parker, reportedly is another interested team.

Memphis and San Antonio met in Paris during the 2003 exhibition schedule.

European training camps could last 5-to-10 days next year.

Beno Udrih led the Spurs with 20 points in Thursday's 95-91 exhibition loss to Washington.

"I thought Beno was our best player tonight," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "He really showed point-guard skills. He showed aggressiveness. He made other people on the floor better."

Udrih also played well during his brief time on the floor on Monday against Miami. After struggling a bit against Philadelphia on Wednesday, he again earned Popovich's praise.

"To have the third point guard and go out and play like he did," Popovich said, "is a bonus for us."