The devastating leg injury Indiana Pacers star Paul George suffered during Team USA's scrimmage in Las Vegas on Friday night led some critics, including Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, to again question the NBA's current strategy when it comes to allowing star players to participate in international competition. But despite George's injury, NBA commissioner Adam Silver doesn't envision any major changes, according to ESPN's Marc Stein.
Adam Silver doesn’t expect major change in NBA international participation
Silver expects the NBA’s stars to continue to participate in international competition despite the horrific injury to Paul George in a Team USA scrimmage.
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George suffered a compound leg fracture in the scrimmage after challenging a James Harden drive in the fourth quarter. George jumped and fouled Harden on the play, and when the Pacers star landed, his right leg folded at the base of the basket stanchion.
Paul George Injury
Paul George Injury
George will likely miss the entire 2014-15 season due to the injury, which is a killer blow to Indiana. Next season will also be the first year of a five-year contract extension worth about $92 million that George signed last offseason.
While the gruesome injury to George has raised questions about the merits of sending stars to play in international competition, Silver said in a statement Sunday night that there are still positives to having the best players represent Team USA and he doesn’t anticipate a major shift in thinking:
“Without a doubt, basketball has grown tremendously since 1992 when NBA players began playing in the Olympics,” Silver said. “Also, it’s important to note the [improvement] many of our players have made in terms of ability, leadership and passion for the game by playing for their home countries.
”Injuries can happen any place at any time. The experiences our players have enjoyed by participating in their national teams, however, are ones that are unique and special in almost every other way. At this point, I don’t anticipate a major shift in the NBA’s participation in international competitions.
“It seems clear, however, that this will be a topic at our next NBA competition committee meeting in September and our board of governors meeting in October. And of course we will continue to evaluate the pros and cons of participating in international tournaments.”
Cuban was once again quick to criticize the current setup after the George injury. Cuban blasted the IOC and said the NBA should create its own World Cup of Basketball so the league and its players could see more profit from participating. After Silver released his statement on Sunday, Cuban had more to say:
When considering FIBA/Olympic events ask who gets paid. Players=No. NBA=No FIBA/IOC=YES. Ask the people making money of us what they think
— Mark Cuban (@mcuban) August 4, 2014 Although Cuban has been overly critical the past few days, the Pacers have not. Pacers president Larry Bird released a statement on Saturday that supported USA Basketball and called George’s injury an “unfortunate” one that could have happened “anytime, anywhere.”
Team USA will have to shake off the George injury as they continue to prepare for the FIBA Basketball World Cup, which begins in Spain on Aug. 30. As of right now, none of the other players are expected to withdraw their name from consideration for the World Cup roster.
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