The pros and cons of offseason tournaments
The globalization of basketball has made the sport a world-wide affair, giving players plenty of exposure but little rest. And that is where the debate begins as to whether it’s wise for NBA players to compete for their national teams.
Those who saw the U.S. recapture the gold medal in the Beiing Olympics would surely give a thumbs up to representing one’s country. And it must be noted that despite the success of the U.S., there are many other countries where world tournaments are considered as popular as anything else, including NBA games.
The pressure for many non-U.S. players to compete for their countries in various tournaments is immense, a true source of national pride.
When Kevin Garnett decided not to compete for the U.S. team, it barely caused a whimper. However, if Pau Gasol decided not to play for Spain or Manu Ginobili had decided to sit out the most recent Olympics for Argentina, it would caused commotion among sports fans in those respective countries.
If it were only once every four years in the Olympics that players competed, that would likely be more acceptable, but even the U.S. has asked its players for a multi-year commitment. Many other coutnries ask for an even greater level of commitment.
This issue came up again when San Antonio Spurs point guard Tony Parker recently suffered a mild sprain of his right ankle while playing for the French National Team. When asked to comment, the Spurs told Hoopshype.com that they have sent out a release on the matter that was their position.
The Spurs stated that Parker would begin his rehabilitation process in San Antonio before rejoining the French National Team. It also stated that a timeline for Parker’s return would be determmined based on how he responds to his rehabilitation program.
“We want to thank Tony for returning to San Antonio to allow our medical staff to examine him,” said Spurs General Manager RC Buford. “It shows his maturity and his dedication to the Spurs organization.”
The Spurs didn’t want to comment on having players competing for their various National Teams in the offseason. One has to think it’s a touchy issue since the Spurs are the same team that had Manu Ginobili miss the beginning of the last season after he needed surgery following the 2008 Olympics to repair a ligament injury in his left ankle.
Ginobili had originally suffered a posterior impingement of his left ankle in the first round of the 2008 playoffs against Phoenix. The injury hampered him the duration of the playoffs. After rest and rehabilitation he was cleared to play for the Olympics, where he re-aggravated the injury. Ginobili had surgery in September of 2008 and missed the beginning of the 2008-2009 season.
It was an injury-plagued year for Ginobili, who only appeared in 44 games and whose season ended prematurely in April with a stress fracture in his right ankle, causing him to miss the playoffs.
Anybody would agree that there are positives and negatives about NBA players competing in the offseason.
One can surely cite the injury factor as a reason not to have the players compete. Yet there are plenty of players who go through the year-round grind and come through fine.
Take Kobe Bryant for instance. In less than one year’s time, Bryant competed for the Olympic team, then played in all 82 regular season games for the Los Angeles Lakers, and another 23 in the postseason. The extra workload didn’t seem to bother Bryant, the Finals MVP.
In addition, there is Bryant’s teammate Pau Gasol, who participated in the same whirlwind schedule. Gasol was on Spain’s silver medal Olympic team, and then played in 81 regular season games and 23 more in the playoffs for the Lakers.
Yet Gasol is an interesting case study because in 2006 he suffered a broken foot in Spain’s semifinal win over Argentina during the FIBA World Championships. Gasol then missed the first 23 games of the 2006-2007 NBA season for the Memphis Grizzlies. That season the Grizzlies went 22-60 after three consecutive years of competing in the postseason. Memphis has been in a free-fall ever since.
And even if a player escapes injury and competes in more than 100 NBA games such as Bryant and Gasol, this past year, one wonders what toll that takes on the body down the road.
One person who is clearly against seeing NBA players participate in national tournaments is Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban.
When contacted by Hoopshype.com for his views, Cuban sent his blog of 2006. His views haven’t changed since then.
“I’ve said it before and I will say it again, the NBA is making a huge mistake by letting our players participate in the Olympics and its qualifying competitions,” Cuban wrote. “Anyone who thinks the Olympics are anything more or less than a business ought to try to bid on the TV rights or talk to any of the many businesses who have been sued for trademark infringements.”
Cuban totally isn’t against having players compete in the offseason, he just feels that there is a better economic way as far as the NBA is concerned.
“If the game of basketball truly has grown to the level of interest we all think and hope it has, then we should just dump playing for the Olympics and hold our own tournament,” he wrote. “If we were really , really smart, we would work with the NHL,NFL , MLB, the USA Track and Field organizations, Tennis and other sports with strong professional bases and create our own games. Then supporting the international development of the games would make sense. Then we could have bidding to host the SuperGames. To provide TV coverage. To sponsors. A Winter SuperGames, A Summer SuperGames every 4 years.”
Again, even Cuban would be in favor of some sort of competition that would put the toll on the bodies of NBA players. And there is no bigger proponent of the NBA game than Cuban.
The NBA players would argue that they have to keep working out in the offseason anyway, so why not be in a competitive setting that the Olympics or these other tournaments provide.
There is something to be said for that, but one has to wonder how much pounding an NBA player’s body can take in a league where the seasons are long and the offseasons for many have become increasingly shorter.
ray Said,
August 6, 2009 @ 12:11 pm
maybe, it’s the NBA. no one ever says anything about how maybe they play too many games, and that it is all about money, and not about the health of the players. i mean soccer players play in international tournaments and they play for their club teams, sometimes their are issues but usually its not that big of deal, and that is the mind set that the european players have. in my opinion they should cut the amount of games they play in a season, some of those games just don’t matter instead of 80 games maybe they could play 50 games, but i know that would never happen, because its about money. oh, and mark cuban is an idiot.
Neven Said,
August 6, 2009 @ 12:55 pm
Playing for national teams is what is all about, nothing else matters for us, supporters in Europe and rest of the world. We don’t really care that much how our players play in NBA because there is all about the money, no real game played, just show business. For me 10 NBA rings are not worth as 1 Olympic gold.
Oh, and Mark Cuban is an idiot.
HoopsHype.com NBA Blogs - Marc Narducci » The pros and cons of … | Cuba today Said,
August 6, 2009 @ 1:09 pm
[...] Continued here: HoopsHype.com NBA Blogs - Marc Narducci » The pros and cons of … [...]
David Said,
August 6, 2009 @ 1:19 pm
Ray, Calling Mark cuban an idiot and advocating for a 50 games season in the NBA shows how little minded you are.You fail to understand that these teams and organisation commit alot of money on these player,Each of these players as an indivitual could be likened to a multi-million dollar corporation.So asking investor to these corporation not to protect their investment is share stupidity,Already some of these team are begining to lose money,and u still want to cut down the number of games? Thank God we don’t have people like you running the NBA
Andy Roddick Said,
August 6, 2009 @ 1:20 pm
second
Danny Habetyes Said,
August 6, 2009 @ 1:46 pm
How about the other perspective. I would argue that because of the Team USA experience we witnessed some of the best basketball this year. Kobe and Lebron were remarkable, as well as the rest of the Team USA cast. Getting the best players together to work on their games for months at a time can only be beneficial to the league, even if there are some minor injury setback.
sweetestbaby Said,
August 6, 2009 @ 2:22 pm
These tournaments are only beneficial to young unproven players not veterans who will just get injured.
idris Said,
August 6, 2009 @ 3:15 pm
ray is 100% correct. the problem is that the NBA schedule is overkill. There are constant back-to-backs, often involving a team playing a game, travelling to a new city after the game, and then playing another game the next day.
the NBA schedule decreases the quality of each individual game because players are basically playing to not get injured most of the season.
it also ruins the league because there are unbalanced schedules. It’s hardly fair that Memphis, Golden State, and Minnesota have to play 4 games against the Lakers, Spurs, Hornets, Nuggets, Blazers, Rockets, Suns, Mavericks, and Jazz while teams like the Celtics, Cavs, and Magic get to pad their record with 4 games against the legion of below average eastern conference teams. Case in point, the West had 5 teams with more than 35 losses against their own conference compared to the East which only had one.
clearly, the NBA and it’s horrendous management are the root of this problem. hopefully there’ll be significant changes made in the next 24 months (fire Stern already!). The NBA is hemhoragging money while the NFL and MLB are continuing to grow despite the economy. The owners and NBAPA need to rethink the direction they have taken the sport over the past 25 years.
Baldur Már Said,
August 6, 2009 @ 6:38 pm
We’re talking abt NBA versus the Olympics, nuff said
If ppl really think playing for a NBA team is bigger than representing your country then money got to be the only thing on your mind
Mephistopheles Said,
August 6, 2009 @ 7:33 pm
Idris,
how can you say it decreases the quality of play to have more fatigued players and longer schedules. Due to this you can have ample opportunities to have breakout performances and go on statistical runs (hot streaks). The NBA is so talented (though not at center) that a young bench player could get a chance one night to shine and score 40, whereas if the schedule was shorter and everyone was healthy bench players would never break out of that role. When Ray Allen got hurt in 2003 (i think) Flip Murray exploded for almost 30 a game for the beginning of the season. Injured players allow for other players rise up and possibly become the next superstars.
As far as quality games on a more regular basis, if GM’s and owners managed their TEAMS BETTER than you might have more quality games, its not the schedule. Look at the 4 times the Lakers played the Spurs this year, every game was competitive and good, even if there were injuries. this is because the teams are managed properly. Now tell me, how many of the 4 games between OKC and Minnesota were good??? Its not because of the schedule, its because Kevin McHale is a flapping douche and Sam Presti inherited a mess (he’s doin alright)
? Said,
August 6, 2009 @ 9:10 pm
Mark Cuban is wrong. Every player for every sport has the right to play for their national teams. Honestly I think American football should have a American football world cup and be in the olympics, even if it is only popular in U.S. and Canada. Mixed Martial arts should do it too. It’s the right thing to do for sports to have national team tournaments.
However, I do think there needs to be some changes. Like for 1 thing, after the nba season is over they should immediately having national team training camp, which should only last 4 weeks, and the tournament or qualifiers should start after that. For the 2008 olympics, it took like 6 or 7 weeks after the nba season until the basketball olympics started. The NBA would probably have to re-adjust their schedule.
Also the NBA should just have 2 week training camp and preseason before the season starts. I mean you have 82 games to develop chemistry.
The Vision Said,
August 6, 2009 @ 11:28 pm
When teams sign these players to long term commitments, it is a understanding for both parties, the organization and player alike. Part of that commitment is performing at a high level and being paid for your services. The NBA pays players huge amounts of money to stay true to that commitment, and the players will sign for no less. When your paying someone over 80million in a market where cap space is a serious issue, and then the player gets injured, that puts a lot of strain on the entire franchise. The Chicago Bulls are another example like the Spurs as to how these offseason tournaments affect there players. Luol Deng in particular has been suffering from a stress fracture in his legs as a result. He was just recently paid a contract of over 70million with incentitives just 2 seasons ago, and hasn’t been healthy enough to complete a full season in the NBA. This is his 1st year in a while not playing for Great britain to allow his injury to heal, and hopefully he’ll be back to play for the Bulls at 100%.
Olympics is more of a bonus. NBA teams aren’t paying there players to play overseas. They’re paying them to play 82 games and help there respective teams make a push to the playoffs and possibly win a Championship, but reserves the player the right to choose. So if a player plays an entire 82 game season plus playoffs, add in practices and other training on top of offseason tournaments, that’s a full year of straight basketball with no time to rest in between. If a player signs a contract to play for a NBA team, they should just stick to that contract. If they wanna play overseas, then they should not be in the NBA, and sign with a team overseas instead.
Coach T Said,
August 7, 2009 @ 1:01 am
I agree with idris. There are too many games played each year in the NBA. And back to back games are absolutely ridiculous! Fans do not get a very good product when a team has already played the day before. Some of the top players like Duncan will even be sitting out here and there on back to back games. They seriously need to get rid of back to back games. A sixty game season is plenty. Cheers
Stephen Janetzki Said,
August 7, 2009 @ 1:26 am
I like the Olympics and the World Championships, but, apart from that the other tournaments do bugger all but screw up players for their regular squads.
Salaner Said,
August 7, 2009 @ 3:35 am
Some basic facts haven’t been presented properly in this discussion. For instance: Luol Deng’s actually minimal career with the UK national team. He’s played a grand total of 15 games for that team, none of them in a top-level tournament, since obtaining British citizenship in October, 2006. Or such as the number of injuries sustained in summer leagues (like Las Vegas), unsanctioned pick-up games and extra-curricular, forbidden physical activities (remember Radmanovic and Monta Ellis…) These injuries clearly outnumber those sustained with national teams. In addition, the medical attention with national teams is far better than in any of those other activities. Plus, the NBA needs an agreement with FIBA to advance the interests of the NBA worldwide and to allow for top-level US representation in the Olympics and World Championships (needed if the rest of the world is to continue considering the US, and hence the NBA, as the No. 1 basketball country, and therefore to continue buying NBA apparel…) That agreement is in place, and it determines that NBA clubs are not allowed to bar any of their players, American or not, from playing with their national team. Finally, no major international sport (tennis, soccer, track, swimming, hockey…) can survive as such without a top-level World Championship. Without it, it becomes just a major REGIONAL sport, like American football. Compare the worldwide sales of NFL products with the worldwide sales of NBA products…
Max Said,
August 7, 2009 @ 4:23 am
International games are good for many reasons :
- Players have high level games, with intensity and that is better to play summer leagues, individual workouts, …
- The NBA players who represent their country can interest people who don’t watch NBA during the season cause the national pride is a stronger effect than anything.
This is a good thing for business if people then watch NBA games, buy jerseys, …
The reason not to play international games cause players can be injured is not a good one for me cause they can also be injured in summer leagues or pratice games.
Players don’t take holidays during summer, it’s not a secret for anyone…
The only reason that could be given is that if a players is injured who’s gonna pay the insurance? the national team and the NBA franchise have to agreed, and i think it’s where the problems can occured between the two organisations…
MrRocco Said,
August 7, 2009 @ 5:59 am
Speaking from the bleacher perspective, the reduction of games in the NBA schedule would be a financial nightmare for us in the nose-bleeds. Taking two kids to the game, the cheap seats, already costs a weeks worth of groceries. I am including travel, parking, 1 drink, 1 item to eat, 1 inexpensive item which counts towards birthday/X-Mass. I would just love to be able to treat the kids to a floor game but I just can not afford it, never mind multiple games during the season.
To cut the season games by 20% would increase seat costs by 30% at the very least since they have to make up for lost parking and concessestion (the real money makers) earnings. I have to say, it is extremely difficult for me to have any concerns for people earning over a million a year, at minimum, on whether they are tired or not. I am tired at 5:00 AM every day but I still have to go to work. How many ballers/owners/staff do the same day in and day out?
In closing, my kids ‘live’ to go the one game a season and it is something I do not want to do but have to do for them because I love them.
Surujh Said,
August 7, 2009 @ 7:04 am
Ok, so for all those people against having NBA players take part in these “dumb” and “meaningless” international tournaments. Let’s see, then that means that TEAM USA would have never fielded Dream Teams, I, II and III. The USA would be relegated to sending collegiate players and players playing in the US minor leagues (who can play and would pose a certain threat to foreign competition), but would definitely diminish the USA’s “dominance” over the world basketball stage. If you’re willing for the USA to be looked at as a top 5 to top 10 basketball power as opposed to the clear cut #1, then ok…leave all NBA players out. If not, keep quiet.
Andrew Said,
August 7, 2009 @ 7:42 am
Quick thought here!
What if the NBA players who choose to play outside the NBA, were told that if hurt their contracts would be voided. How many players (all super stars) from the past Olympics would given up millions on taking a chance to get hurt? I think the answers is zero.
F-dizzle Said,
August 7, 2009 @ 7:56 am
NBA=Job, $
Olymics=Passion, Pride
Everybody has to get paid, so you go to work. You get promotions and work your way to the top, the NBA.
After work you go home and spend your lesiure time enjoying the things you love; Playing for the love of the sport and supporting your country.
George J Said,
August 7, 2009 @ 1:12 pm
Dude. US was winning with the college players before the Dream Teams. The Dream Teams were really all about popularizing the game and making it trully global. We do not need the NBA players to play in order to win in international competition.
Secondly, don’t give me that crap that the NBA is all about money. Of course it is. It’s a professional league. So, are all other professional leagues. The Olympics and world champtionships are all about money too.
As for the guy who says that the NBA is about money and the world/euro champtionships are not I just have one thing to say: The national teams are not allowed to field all their professional soccer platers in the Olympics (only two over the age of 22 I believe is still the rule). So, I guess you can have exceptions when it comes to the other sports.
Greece Said,
August 8, 2009 @ 5:43 am
Players must be left to decide their future by them selves noboby can tell if you want to represent your country and your favourite colours.But unfortunately money determine everything in this this world and especially in the united states and all the traditions and ethics have been broken down…
Salaner Said,
August 8, 2009 @ 11:35 am
>”Dude. US was winning with the college players before the Dream Teams. The Dream Teams were really all about popularizing the game and making it trully global. We do not need the NBA players to play in order to win in international competition.”
Ah, blissful ignorance. The last time the US won anything with college players was the 1986 World Championships - that’s 23 years ago. Even with NBA players the US has lost the 2002 and 2006 Worlds and the 2004 Olympics.
Greece Said,
August 9, 2009 @ 3:36 pm
My friend it’s clear to me that nba is the best basketball competition in our planet.I just commented and told my view about this huge theme and to make it clear i wanted to say that BECAUSE players are humans they must be left to do whatever they want and not being pressed by their teams to stay out of these competitions. i can see that many of you will tell me that because players are humans they have to understand their limitis and not going on great lenghts i totally agree with it. For me doctors view must have a great impact on this kind of decisions and keep players away from exaggerations but players must be the only judge of them selves
tresh Said,
August 11, 2009 @ 3:25 pm
all i can say is people who said that a gold olympic medal or a world championship medal is under a nba ring don’t know anything about international sports,u think that nba is the only place where basketball can be play….tsssssss…u guys will never understand the pride of a man who can win win something for his country the truth is that nba has the most money and is the best place for the best player in the world…and what else ??? u guys ‘ll never see people crying and and singing like international people that i saw in france during the world soccer cup in 1998, watching coreans ,japanese ,colombians,iranians people in the same stadium ,hoping for only one goal,cheerings for only one action ,singing all the time…u guys ‘ll never understand what i’m saying when i talk about passion and emotions,u guys only believe on victories and money insurance and blablabla…i worked one year in Philly and all i can say is i was so happy when i saw Iverson and co,but in my head i was dreaming about that one day nba will not be the best place for basketball,nba will not be the main goal for international players…that day we ‘ll have a true competition and that day u guys will trully understand what i say when i talk about national pride in basketball and emotions by watching ur national team having REAL difficulties and win at the end…or loose…this is sport,real sport when there is nothing written by advance ,when u can see a a game and u say “man we are pretty good but the other team is pretty good too,so watch the game and enjoy it” not a game where i’ll know the result by advance because the true is that a very good US team with the best players will win so far against an argentinian team or a spanish team even with Gino or Gasol and that’s so boring.
So just open ur mind because in europe and and all over the world all that we want for basketball is the day were there we will be a real competition between ur guys and the rest of the world because in national sports there is no other joy,love ,big big emotions than crying ,shouting,singing kissing everobody in the street in ur town just because ur national team just had won the world championship !!!
One day that ‘ll happen and that day…I’ll LOVE THIS GAME MORE THAN EVER !!!
Tod Said,
August 11, 2009 @ 4:20 pm
NBA $$$ vs Individual rights. Hmmm, let the NBA ban their players from competing in FIBA tournaments and watch the fallout. Internationsl players love playing for their countries. It’s not about money. Remember when Nash played for Canada and gave his coach money out of his pocket to share with the rest of the team so they wouldn’t miss out on things??? Injuries happen anywhere. At least Parker didn’t hurt himself while riding a moped…