For the past few weeks it’s been treated as a foregone conclusion that the NBA and FIBA would push for an under-23 age limit before the 2016 Olympics, but maybe we all jumped the gun. The NBA may still push for an age limit for men’s basketball at the Olympics, but they’ve got to work with FIBA, too.
NBA Reportedly ‘Unlikely’ To Adopt An Olympic Age Limit By 2016
And because of FIBA’s massive infrastructure, it’s unlikely that any change will take effect before the 2016 Olympics, according to a source who spoke with Sports Illustrated.
The NBA’s interest in pursuing an age ceiling for Olympic basketball is “unlikely” to be instituted in time for the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro, according to the source ... the source stressed that quick action on an age limitation is highly unrealistic for FIBA. Passage of the new rule will require the ratification of 213 national basketball federations around the world -- the sporting equivalent of the United Nations. The involvement of the IOC will further complicate the talks.
A change may still be coming, but it’ll be more complicated to pull off than you’d think. Even for David Stern. And for the rest of us? This just means we “likely” have at least one more Olympics watching the very best players in the world, and just as important, another four years for players, coaches, and fans, to protest the NBA’s widely unpopular urge to overhaul the format. As the world gets ready for the men’s medal round games tomorrow, this is great news.
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