Ricky needs to stop playing games for Spain in the offseason

[markkbu [enjin:6588958]]

I'm sure if you guys were Spanish you would want him to play for your national team.......

I would of course in the Olympics but he plays over there EVERY offseason

I believe he missed the two previous years playing for Spain due to injury so it hasn't exactly been EVERY offseason. Can't blame the guy for wanting to represent his country at every opportunity. I know I would.

True. I bet that he will play on his national team. I can't imagine that anyone would criticize the guy for representing his country. Most people would find that too significant of an honor to pass up.

[Papalrep]

Good point Hicks.
I go to a golf dome in the winter. Unless I work with a pro, I am practicing my same lousy swing, right? Weights and a shooting coach - Ricky owes the Twolves all the off season effort he can handle to improve strength and shooting

[KiwiMatt]

Once he decided to take $5M per from an NBA team, it is my opinion that the team should be allowed to dictate whether or not a player plays in alternate leagues or Olympic events. The Wolves have a right, based on an EXTREME investment to tell him to bypass summer ball in Europe. If Ricky is severely hurt during one of these events, the NBA team has no recourse from a salary cap impact standpoint. Too much risk.

It's my understanding that the international teams have to pay 'insurance' to the NBA team of who the player plays for. We have this problem in New Zealand where NZ Basketball can't afford to pay OKC this fee so it looks like Steven Adams will never get to play for his national team, unless he pays it himself because there simply isn't enough funding to cover and justify the cost. It's pretty sad when the best player to ever come out of your country can't even play for his national team because the NBA dictates everything.

This is the reason why international basketball has no credibility.

I agree that there is no need for them to play most international games, but players should be entitled to play at the Olympics, Euro and World Cup events. The NBA teams should have no right to dictate this no matter how much money is invested in a player.

[m4gor [enjin:6667447]]

well guys this year there is a FIBA World Cup organized in Spain so it is highly unlikely that Rubio will be willing to sit home and practice Js on a back yard and not help team Spain to win it all, and it is also unlikely that wolves will even try to force him to not to play, as they should now that it is probably lost case ..

[Hicks123 [enjin:6700838]]

kiwi,

I have to disagree. Everything you hear from any of these international guys prior to coming to the NBA is something like this...."My dream since I was a little boy is to one day play in the NBA". It is not, I dream of playing in the Euro league. The NBA is the pinnacle of basketball, and these players unfortunately lose some rights once they agree to terms to change their financial future.

And I guess I am old-school in that I feel like all of these other leagues, including Olympics, are kind of a joke. These are all professional players just shuffling teams. I appreciated the days when the Olympics and such were actually amateur athletes. The USA basketball team winning gold in the Olympics means nothing to me. It is fully expected and not that impressive.

[The Rage Monster [enjin:8010341]]

It's a bit selfish to say someone isn't allowed to represent their country. Whatever Rubio decides to do will be reflected in his next contract anyway. If he works on his shot and it becomes average to above average, he's a max contract player, if not I could see him maybe getting half that.

[Hicks123 [enjin:6700838]]

Rage,

Not sure it is selfish. There are provisions in many sports contracts that will attempt to shield a teams exposure to an injury that may occur outside that particular league contract. And for the most part, you are asking teams to expose these multi-million dollar players who can effect a franchise over multiple years for the sake of a 2-3 week tournament. IMO, simply not worth it. As for Rubio, along with the above, he has MUCH bigger issues to attend to from a performance standpoint. If I was him, I would worry about becoming a top 15 PG in the NBA before I worried about playing 15 consecutive years in these Spanish leagues/games. He has already experienced everything these other leagues have to offer, and he will have plenty more opportunities if he so chooses. Much of the Wolves future success lies with Rubio's ability to develop. The Spanish team, however, will do just fine without him.

[KiwiMatt]

Hicks,

I agree that the NBA is the pinnacle of basketball, but representing your country is probably not that far behind for a lot of players.

It would be good to see at least one international competition, whether it be the World Cup or Olympics, where NBA teams allowed all eligible players to play for their respective country. It would be a great thing for the sport internationally., which is an avenue the NBA needs to explore more. Sure you have a big market for the sport in the states, but globally it's even bigger.

One competition, say every 4 years, where the best of the best from every country play for world glory!

Quick fact: In the 2002 FIBA Mens World Championship, New Zealand finished 4th, while the USA finished 6th.

Just thought I'd rub that one in guys ;-)

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

If I remember correctly, that 2002 team was coached by George Karl. Greeeaaaat. In my opinion, one of the most overrated coaches in all time. No wonder they underachieved. That's all his teams ever do.