To Play Or Not To Play--The 2014 FIBA World Cup

The FIBA World Cup is coming up later this month, and many NBA fans are up in arms about the lack of talent on the squad. Carmelo and Kobe are sitting out this year. LeBron and Kevin Love decided that Cleveland is better than Spain, while Chris Paul and Blake Griffin dealt with new ownership issues in LA. And, after seeing Paul George experience one of the most unwatchable injuries in sports’ history, MVP Kevin Durant opted out.

I don’t think Team USA has anything to worry about, though. First off, this isn’t the Olympics, so everybody just needs to calm down. Secondly, this team is loaded with talent.

Sure, there is a sense of pride that these guys have. Many of them played on the Olympic team in 2012 and dominated their way to a gold medal. I can only imagine the patriotism these athletes felt in London that summer. Winning on such a large platform is huge. But, the FIBA World Cup is not the same as the Olympics. Nowhere near as many people watch those games.

Kobe Bryant, of all of the previously mentioned players, has the most reason to sit out this summer. His life must have been a nightmare over the last year and a half, plagued by injuries to an already aging body. His team, the Los Angeles Lakers, who he has been loyal to since he was just a teen drafted out of high school, didn’t even make the playoffs last year. He knows how important he is to the rebuilding Lakers. Why would he risk reinjuring his Achilles or possibly hurting something else? He isn’t getting any younger, and a competitive man like Bryant wants to win and play in as many basketball games he can. An injury at this World Cup would destroy him.

Additionally, these guys have contracts to protect. I’m not just talking about contracts with their teams. They also have contracts with other businesses. Take Kevin Durant for example. This guy has deals with companies like Sprint and Under Armor, and you better believe this dude is getting a fat paycheck from both of them. KD is also a franchise player for the Thunder, who have a legitimate shot at going to the Finals next year and bringing a title to OKC. As great of a player and leader that Russell Westbrook is, I don’t think he could lead the Thunder without Kevin Durant. Durant has already won a gold medal, but an NBA championship has been unattainable thus far in his career.

All of that money and, more importantly, all of these dreams fade away, if not vanish, in the event of an injury.  If I’m Kevin Durant, my priorities are with the Thunder, and I would definitely reconsider playing for Team USA after seeing Paul George’s injury.

Even Stephen Curry questioned whether or not he wanted to stay on the team. “Reacting to Paul's injury is natural," Curry said. "I think just talking to my family and guys in the Warrior front office, just kind of seeing where everybody was, but at the end of the day it's a great honor to wear this jersey and to have these experiences and I'm going to take advantage of it." He ultimately decided to stay on the squad, but he wrestled with the decision. Like Kevin Durant and Paul George, he is a pivotal part of his team. Going through the Western Conference is daunting, but the Warriors will at least put up a fight.

But, Stephen Curry decided to stay on the team. So did James Harden, Derrick Rose, Anthony Davis, and Damian Lillard. Here’s a look at the roster for Team USA 2014, as listed on their website:

Stephen Curry—SG
Anthony Davis—PF
DeMar Derozan—G
Andre Drummond—C
Kenneth Farried—PF
Rudy Gay—F
James Harden—SG
Gordon Hayward—SG
Kyrie Irving—PG
Kyle Korver—SG
Damian Lillard—PG
Chandler Parsons—F
Derrick Rose—PG
Klay Thompson—SG

Not a bad looking group of guys if you ask me. Damian Lillard is destined to be an MVP candidate in a few short years. James Harden is an offensive force to be reckoned with. And Derrick Rose is playing great, almost as if that torn ACL never happened. I’d pick these guys against any of the international teams, especially when they are being coached by arguably the greatest coach of all time, Mike Krzyzewski.

Will this road to a gold medal be easy? I’m not sure. But, I know this group has a shot at taking it home. Granted, it would be much easier if some of the MVP candidates were playing. But, that doesn’t mean that they can’t win without them.

Besides, Team USA 2016 (the Olympic Team) is the only Team USA that really counts.