Sooooo, USA loses in quarterfinals

[Sean Miller Fan]

How embarrassing. Even with the D team we fielded, we should have won it.

Listen, I understand these guys not wanting to play for their country. If I was in their position, I may not want to either but the NBA needs to take a greater stance here. They should stipulate that unless a legitimate injury is documented as the reason for turning down an invite, you have to miss the 1st 5 games of the NBA season or something like that.

 

[DC_Area_Panther]

The NBA would have to insure the players against loss of future income in the event of injury.

 

[MarshallGoldberg]

They couldn't stop Rudy Gobert, he was the best player on the floor. Pop went small, they made a small run but that was it.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

The NBA would have to insure the players against loss of future income in the event of injury.

They absolutely should.

 

[Pitt79]

Players from other countries are dying to represent their country, with no regard to monetary loss due to potential injury. Look at NBA MVP Giannis, there was no way he wasn't playing for Greece, he has the most to lose than just about anybody. Why is that? Maybe people from other countries don't just distill their whole life down to a monetary equation? I don't know?

 

[Ski11585]

How embarrassing. Even with the D team we fielded, we should have won it.

Listen, I understand these guys not wanting to play for their country. If I was in their position, I may not want to either but the NBA needs to take a greater stance here. They should stipulate that unless a legitimate injury is documented as the reason for turning down an invite, you have to miss the 1st 5 games of the NBA season or something like that.

Your idea is bad.

 

[lilspainishflea]

Players from other countries are dying to represent their country, with no regard to monetary loss due to potential injury. Look at NBA MVP Giannis, there was no way he wasn't playing for Greece, he has the most to lose than just about anybody. Why is that? Maybe people from other countries don't just distill their whole life down to a monetary equation? I don't know?

Giannis has an entire country begging him to play. He might be the most popular athlete in all of Greece. So there's a strong motivation for him to go out and represent.

There's less consensus from American fans (e.g., are they going to beg LeBron or Durant? Chris Paul or Kemba Walker?). Plus, America just doesn't care if we win foreign basketball competitions. I watch a ton of hoops and I don't mind if we finish 5th or whatever with a bunch of good, not great, American players. I have no doubt if LeBron, KD, Anthony Davis, etc. were out there they'd win it all.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

Giannis has an entire country begging him to play. He might be the most popular athlete in all of Greece. So there's a strong motivation for him to go out and represent.

There's less consensus from American fans (e.g., are they going to beg LeBron or Durant? Chris Paul or Kemba Walker?). Plus, America just doesn't care if we win foreign basketball competitions. I watch a ton of hoops and I don't mind if we finish 5th or whatever with a bunch of good, not great, American players. I have no doubt if LeBron, KD, Anthony Davis, etc. were out there they'd win it all.

Yes, but we are the best basketball country in the world. If we arent going to send our A team (by making them play or suspending them), then I'd rather just send college kids and root for them as underdogs. Sending an NBA D team and losing with that team, which is still bonafide good NBA players is embarrassing.

 

[below0w]

Yes, but we are the best basketball country in the world. If we arent going to send our A team (by making them play or suspending them), then I'd rather just send college kids and root for them as underdogs. Sending an NBA D team and losing with that team, which is still bonafide good NBA players is embarrassing.

Wait, you actually think it'd be appropriate to suspend an athlete who chose not to participate in an international tournament? That's batshit insane.

BTW, Rudy Gobert is easily the best player on either team. Fournier and Batum are very good players as well. There's nothing embarrassing about losing to that roster.

 

[Zeldas Open Roof]

Yes, but we are the best basketball country in the world. If we arent going to send our A team (by making them play or suspending them), then I'd rather just send college kids and root for them as underdogs. Sending an NBA D team and losing with that team, which is still bonafide good NBA players is embarrassing.

we should go back to sending amateur players. a college basketball all star team would at least be fun to watch. definitely far from a guarantee of winning but it would be fun for the casual American hoops fan..

 

[Pitt79]

we should go back to sending amateur players. a college basketball all star team would at least be fun to watch. definitely far from a guarantee of winning but it would be fun for the casual American hoops fan..

This is the difference between the USA and the other countries. The other countries want to send their best team possible, ALL of their biggest stars, and they want to win, and ALL of the players are all in too.

 

[FireballZ]

we should go back to sending amateur players. a college basketball all star team would at least be fun to watch. definitely far from a guarantee of winning but it would be fun for the casual American hoops fan..

If you think an NBA All Star squad made up of players that have already made $100 - $500M doesn't want to play and risk injury (even though they have long term guaranteed deals already), do you really think the modern day NCAA All Star, who has made nothing more than the 'chump change' that their handlers have given them, are really going to risk their future $100-$500M to play international ball?

 

[joeydavid]

How embarrassing. Even with the D team we fielded, we should have won it.

Listen, I understand these guys not wanting to play for their country. If I was in their position, I may not want to either but the NBA needs to take a greater stance here. They should stipulate that unless a legitimate injury is documented as the reason for turning down an invite, you have to miss the 1st 5 games of the NBA season or something like that.

How does one "listen" to a post?

 

[SoufOaklin4Life]

Nobody, rightfully cares about the fiba basketball tournament.

Olympics only thing the public cares about

 

[Joe the Panther Fan]

Olympics only thing the public cares about

And this team guaranteed that the US qualified for the next Olympics. Mission accomplished!

 

[SoufOaklin4Life]

And this team guaranteed that the US qualified for the next Olympics. Mission accomplished!

Yep

Which will have a high caliber roster

 

[upj87]

If you think an NBA All Star squad made up of players that have already made $100 - $500M doesn't want to play and risk injury (even though they have long term guaranteed deals already), do you really think the modern day NCAA All Star, who has made nothing more than the 'chump change' that their handlers have given them, are really going to risk their future $100-$500M to play international ball?

no, but they used to...

lot of guys five up a variety of things (jobs, families etc.) and to end up in places like Iraq and Afghanistan for their country...

 

[NTOP]

How embarrassing. Even with the D team we fielded, we should have won it.

Listen, I understand these guys not wanting to play for their country. If I was in their position, I may not want to either but the NBA needs to take a greater stance here. They should stipulate that unless a legitimate injury is documented as the reason for turning down an invite, you have to miss the 1st 5 games of the NBA season or something like that.

CBA.

 

[MarshallGoldberg]

no, but they used to...

lot of guys five up a variety of things (jobs, families etc.) and to end up in places like Iraq and Afghanistan for their country...

Maybe the risk of sacrificing your life in the military is because (at least some of the time when politicians don't make idiotic decisions) is it's vitally important -- and winning a minor sporting event actually doesn't help your country.

As for the good old days, even when we had college athletes in the Olympics, a lot of the best players didn't try out. John Wooden and UCLA infamously almost boycotted US Olympic teams during their long dynasty. Maybe we would have won the gold in 1972 if that team had Henry Bibby, Keith (Jamaal) Wilkes, and Bill Walton starting for it.

 

[Pitt79]

Maybe the risk of sacrificing your life in the military is because (at least some of the time when politicians don't make idiotic decisions) is it's vitally important -- and winning a minor sporting event actually doesn't help your country.

The last war that we really had to go to, that was ''vitally important'' was WW2, the rest since then, we could of skipped and things would still be the same.

 

[MarshallGoldberg]

The last war that we really had to go to, that was ''vitally important'' was WW2, the rest since then, we could of skipped and things would still be the same.

I basically agree but didn't want to make it sound like someone who risked their life fighting in a foolish war was themselves a fool. I blame the politicians and military industrial complex, not the soldiers who do their jobs.