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Come Fan with UsTuesday, July 7, 2026

NBA owners are working with FIBA to turn the Olympics into an under-23 tournament, while creating a new World Cup that both would profit from. The players’ union will be involved in deciding the rule.

  • Tom Ziller

    Tom Ziller

    Players Will Make Voice Heard On NBA’s Under-23 Olympic Idea

    Billy Hunter, the chief of the NBA’s players’ union, said that players’ voices will be heard as the NBA attempts to restrict the Olympics to players age 23 or under, according to USA Today’s Jeff Zillgitt. Hunter sits on the board of USA Basketball, but the organization is seen as an offshoot of the NBA’s commissioner’s office. USA Basketball could change its own rules, getting around edits to the NBA collective bargaining agreement or uniform player contract, which would leave players out of the equation.

    But if USA Basketball establishes the rule, other countries may not comply, which wouldn’t help the NBA meet its goals. It could take action from FIBA to institute a global rule barring players over 23 in the Olympic men’s basketball tournament.

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