The Olympic Games are the only international basketball competition respected by Americans… but some would still prefer that NBA players never participate.
Former owner of the Dallas franchise, Mark Cuban, notably submitted a rather crazy idea while the tournament was taking place in Paris.
The relationship between the United States and the rest of the world remains quite… complicated, even in 2024.
Basketball is a good example since many people denigrate the level of European leagues.
And yet, if the craze for these Paris Olympics was real, the tournament has not escaped some controversy.
Elon Musk, for example, was offended that the IOC applied copyright to all images of the competition, making them much less accessible to the public.
A position to which former Mavericks owner Mark Cuban responded by submitting a rather crazy proposal:
The crazy and anti-Olympic project suggested by Mark Cuban
The Olympics are a business first and foremost.
I have always been against NBA players competing in the Olympics.
Instead, we should organize our own World Cup and treat the Olympics like football does.
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Victor Wembanyama cash on his discussion with Kevin Durant: “I made him understand…Cuban thus adopts the point of view of many NBA owners: if the players sent to FIBA competition get injured during the tournament, it is the franchises that suffer afterwards.
On the other hand, the Americans are the only ones who are choosy when it comes to representing their country.
Unfortunately, the businessman’s idea is very popular with fans who even suggest going even further.
That would be a great idea!
And no professional athlete should be allowed to compete in the Olympics.
Mark Cuban watched Dirk Nowitzki represent Germany every summer for nearly 20 years, and now it’s Luka Doncic’s turn with Slovenia.
But the former Mavericks owner is adamant: If he could, he would make it stop.
