USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo is not at all happy and recently said, ""If someone chooses not to play this summer just because he chooses not to play, there's no guarantee he'll be in London." He then followed by saying, "no free passes, regardless who it is."
Wait a second! No LEBRON JAMES in the London Olympics of 2012?
No Dwayne Wade? No Chris Bosh? Is Colangelo crazy?
The ManSpeak feels that this is concerning. Finally, Team USA regained some of its glory of the original Dream Team of 1992 with their outstanding gold medal performance in the Beijing 2008 Olympic games. USA had put together a united group of the best talent that could be offered. A group that was athletic, young, and enjoyed playing together.
Now, Colangelo is threatening to throw hostility into the fire with his recent comments. Sure it is dis-heartening when your hear about the likes of Lebron and D-Wade not playing (maybe Chris Bosh too!). But can you blame them?
These players, selfish as it may seem, have millions of dollars at stake this summer. An injury in the Worlds could be detrimental to each of these players in the dollars they receive and the possible teams they end up with.
And what about the NBA? This years free agency class is as big as ever for the league. It is important for the NBA to have these players healthy, hungry, and playing for teams that want to win.
A summer of free agency seems like a perfectly logical reason to sit out the World Championships this year. It will allow Team USA to deepen its roster and further build chemistry, as long as Colangelo keeps his mouth shut. Yes it is disappointing to hear that Lebron and Wade possibly won't be sporting the red, white, and blue, but we need them in 2012, despite Colangelo's ultimatum.
Lebron and D-Wade have careful waters to tread and not playing may this summer may be in the best interest of themselves, the NBA, and Team USA Basketball. We just need for Mr. Colangelo to see it this way as well.
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