UPDATE 5:19 pm: Kelly Dwyer at Ball Don’t Lie pointed out something about this move that I had not considered: This D-League move is a dress rehearsal for the Olympics in 2012.
If the lockout cancels the entire 2011-12 NBA season (and that is not out of the question) then there would still be a lockout when the next Olympics open in London one year from today (July 27). While in theory players could play in the Olympics during a lockout, the NBA and Team USA stand next to each other wrapped in a Nike flag — it’s a David Stern production. Players likely would not break ranks to go. Which means no Dream Team (on the 20th anniversary of the original Dream Team). So, better to test out the D-League system before next summer.
If you think I’m kidding, the last lockout fell during a World Championships and we sent only undrafted rookies and college kids in 1998. And no, we didn’t get the gold.
3:34 pm: I’ll be up front, I like this move a lot.
The NBA’s big names are locked out and don’t really plan in the Pan American Games anyway, so Team USA is usually a collection of college players.
But this time around it is going to be a D-League team, including coach and players, USA Basketball announced Wednesday.
Tulsa 66ers head coach Nate Tibbetts will be coaching the squad, with a roster to be selected through invited tryouts in early October (at a location yet to be named).
“We’re excited about the opportunity for players and coaches from the NBA Development League to represent their country on an international stage,” said NBA D-League President Dan Reed. “This is another testament to the world-class basketball talent we’re attracting and promoting to the NBA, and we’re very pleased to partner with USA Basketball to go for the gold!”
Two players from the Pan Am team will be part of the USA Select team, the scrimmage partner next summer for Team USA as they get ready for the 2012 London Olympics.
This is a great move for exposure and opportunities for the D-League, and it gets to expose some guys to international competition. The guys selected will want to be there. And it should be a pretty good team.
The Pan Am Games (which take place every four years and are sort of a Western Hemisphere tune up for the Olympics for some sports) will take place in late October in Guadalajara, Mexico. Where people will still care far more about Chivas.