NBA commissioner David Stern will meet Tuesday with top officials from FIBA, the international governing body. But despite reports to the contrary, the meeting was not set to discuss ramifications of the ongoing NBA lockout and the potential for NBA players under contract to play in FIBA-sanctioned league abroad during the stoppage.
David Stern, FIBA Officials To Meet, But NBA Lockout Matters Not On Agenda
The meeting was set in advance to discussed the 2014 FIBA World Championship, according to an NBA spokesman. ESPN’s Chris Sheridan reports that Stern and the FIBA officials -- secretary general Patrick Baumann and president Ivan Mainini -- will discuss player insurance for Olympic qualifying tournaments to be held this summer and the legal ramifications of FIBA clearing players under NBA contract to play in Europe and China.
The NBA said neither item is on the agenda, but could come up as a part of a discussion. Stern has said, however, that it does not intend to fight players’ attempts to play in foreign leagues during the lockout. As such, it’s not clear what there would be left to discuss on that issue; it’s possible that FIBA’s leadership seeks personal assurance that it won’t be a party to a lawsuit by an angered NBA franchise owner.
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