Why the NBA stars refuse to play in the FIBA Americas

BUENOS AIRES (Martin Seldes' Brave New World) - Before we start talking (criticising) about those who choose other things rather than playing every year with their national teams, we should mention those stars who are always there.

They are Luis Scola (Argentina), Carlos Arroyo (Puerto Rico, now playing in Europe), Al Horford (Dominican Republic) and Greivis Vasquez (Venezuela, doubtful in 2013 due to an injury).

Once we've said that, we can now confirm that the FIBA Americas Championship is not an interesting tournament for most of the NBA players.
Why?

The first problem is that most of them know that even if their teams fail to qualify for the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Spain, they can have a new chance coming from an invitation.

But even then, why don't they want to play one tournament a year? Just one in a whole season. We know that they need to train for almost a month and play 10 games in 13 days and their bodies finished absolutely smashed. But organisers and fans want to see them there.

Players make it to the tournament with more than 60 games played in the season and most of them suffered injuries that make things worse.

However, when they have to go and play in the Olympics they do it. They choose when to go and of course they go for the most competitive tournament.

This is the main reason why FIBA has changed their schedule. Players do not adapt to the 15-day tournament and the NBA is not completely helpful.

Last week, we heard Tiago Splitter and Nene Hilario (both from Brazil), Charlie Villanueva (Dominican Republic) and Steve Nash (Canada).

We should add them to the three Argentineans who have already withdrawn from the tournament for different reasons all related to their families and holidays: Manu Ginobili, Pablo Prigioni and Andres Nocioni.

Who can ask them to do differently? After so many years of success, it's not very common to read bad comments towards them. That's all the prestige they've accumulated in the last years.

Carlos Delfino claimed he wanted to play before he had to undergo a knee surgery by the end of the NBA regular season. Unfortunately for Argentina coach Julio Lamas, he won't make it on time to join the team.

Venezuelan Vasquez could also miss the date should he not recover from his right foot injury in time. He was ready to lead his team playing in his own country and with a group full of talented youngsters. His presence is still doubtful.

This FIBA Americas Championship won't enjoy the presence of most of the American NBA stars outside the USA. That doesn't mean the tournament will be uninteresting.

On the contrary. The absences of these players will make it less popular but better for basketball lovers; it's time to see new faces and bodies show their talent.

It's time to see the new Ginobilis, Splitters and Villanuevas. It's time to see how the young Canadians are ready to become great players, to see the two Argentinean point guards, the new Brazilians in the NBA, those Venezuelan guys that are playing in the NCAA together with the Puerto Ricans.

And if their teams qualify to the World Cup, we will have time to think who should play in Spain. But most of them will be there, with one more year, with more experience and knowing they can handle responsibility.

Martin Seldes

FIBA

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