FIBA Secretary General Patrick Baumann FIBA has spoken. And their message to NBA Commissioner David Stern is this: We’re not changing the Olympics, bub. In an in-house interview with FIBA.com, secretary general Patrick Baumann took a strong stance against changing to a 23-and-under rule, which Stern and NBA owners are pushing for. Baumann said such a change would actually give the United States an unfair advantage because of the advanced developmental system in the U.S. compared to other countries. “There is
Mitnick: Olympic Qualifying Tournament Preview
Kostas Papanikolau of Greece, the 2nd-round draft pick of the New York Knicks in 2012 Olympic basketball begins today … sort of. And all those New York Knicks fans who are wondering about their new draft pick, Kostas Papanikolau, will likely get a chance to see him later this summer against Team USA. Greece is one of the favorites in the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament that begins today in Venezuela, and there are more familiar faces for NBA fans
David Stern wants to ruin the Olympics
NEW YORK — Our best vs. your best, and let’s see who can win the gold medal in men’s basketball at the Olympics. That was the idea that spawned the Dream Team, and now NBA commissioner David Stern sounds as though he wants to change it. Stern on Wednesday endorsed a discussion of limiting the Olympics and the World Cup of Basketball (formerly called the World Championship) to players 23 and under, bowing to pressure from NBA owners who have complained that