Paul George's horrifying leg injury during the televised USA Basketball scrimmage wasn't just devastating for the star wing, who will reportedly miss all of next season. It was equally hurtful to his NBA team, the Indiana Pacers, who now have to cope with the loss of George and the defection of Lance Stephenson to Charlotte following back-to-back appearances in the Eastern Conference finals.
Paul George injury puts FIBA rule in spotlight
The NBA and FIBA currently have an agreement that limits the teams’ ability to pull their players from international competition. George’s injury questions the validity of that agreement.
Ethan Miller
An injury as severe as George's in a warmup for an international competition is bound to start a discussion about the risk involved with NBA players participating in events like the FIBA World Cup, but at the moment there's nothing teams can do to block their employees from playing. According to ESPN's Marc Stein, teams can't bar players from international competition unless there's "reasonable medical concern going in."
Paul George Injury
As the deal between FIBA and the NBA currently stands, the players themselves can decide whether or not they play in international competition. The team that controls the player can only intervene if the player has an injury history or is recovering from a recent issue.
In theory, the Chicago Bulls could make a case to hold Derrick Rose out and the Golden State Warriors might have a shot to pull Stephen Curry. But the Oklahoma City Thunder wouldn't have a case to keep Kevin Durant from playing. Whether Durant plays in the FIBA World Cup is up to him.
This is the same clause that allowed the San Antonio Spurs to hold out Argentinian guard Manu Ginobili from competing at the World Cup. Ginobili is still recovering from a stress fracture in his right leg and the Spurs were uncomfortable allowing the 37-year-old to play during that recovery time.
As Stein notes, until the NBA’s deal with FIBA changes, this is the only control the teams really have over the players.
So that would suggest NBA teams won't be able to put up any more resistance to international play unless/until its deal with FIBA changes
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) August 2, 2014 But, in the wake of George’s horrifying injury, that rule could be changing. ESPN’s Mark Jones called it a “turning point.”
Kevin Love didn't play because of the possibility of what happened to Paul George.This will be a turning point.No more NBA stars in FIBA.$$$
— MarkJonesESPN (@MarkJonesESPN) August 2, 2014 And Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports said it could be a “tipping point.”
Owners and GMs united tonight: Paul George injury could be tipping point for use of stars in international play. "Game-changer," GM told me.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) August 2, 2014 Almost every national reporter agrees: The owners, GMs and coaches will push hard for changes.
Hearing from several coaches and executives tonight re: Paul George injury. Worst fear of international competition. Pushing for changes.
— Chris Mannix (@ChrisMannixSI) August 2, 2014 Is this the last FIBA competition with NBA stars? It's possibile. With George's injury, it's impossible to blame any team for wanting to hold back their prized possessions. But Larry Bird, President of Basketball Operations for the Pacers, does not blame Team USA for the injury and said he will continue to support the team despite his star's injury.
Larry Bird says despite George's injury the Pacers "still support USA Basketball," says injury could have happened "anytime, anywhere."
— Chris Mannix (@ChrisMannixSI) August 2, 2014 This is only the beginning of what will likely be a long discussion of NBA players competing in international tournaments.
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