NBA Commissioner Adam Silver on International Play: ‘It is a Big Risk’

We’ve seen top stars such as Kevin Love and Kevin Durant pull out of their commitments to Team USA this summer, and of course there was Paul George’s devastating leg injury.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver acknowledges the obvious — playing for USA Basketball represents an enormous risk for the players and their teams. Per ESPN:

“It is a big risk without enormous financial reward,” Silver said when asked about a sentiment shared by outspoken Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban during a “Commitment to Service” news conference to discuss a collaboration with the U.S. Department of Defense at Madison Square Garden.

 

“But I am sitting next to our highest ranking military official,” Silver said of General Martin Dempsey.” I’m almost embarrassed to be talking about the risk that our players face compared to what our men and women in uniform face.”

 

Silver said he isn’t concerned about whether some of the NBA’s best need more incentive to play in non-Olympic years. […] “No concern,” Silver said. “It is an individual player decision and for these young men we recognize that playing in the NBA is a job and they have responsibilities to their team and their teammates as well. Ultimately they have to make that very personal decision as to whether they want to play in the summer, whether it makes sense for their bodies, whether it makes sense for their families.”