FIBA has announced that the first-ever annual club championship will be launched on October 2010. Details of the said tournament are still on the preliminary stages but according to FIBA, it will consist of 5 top FIBA continental championship teams from Africa, North & South America, Europe, Asia and Oceania including a team invited by the host city. However, an NBA team cannot compete in the tournament.
But some folks in FIBA think it can be worked out in the future:
“There have been some talks with the NBA,” FIBA spokesman Marcos Beltra said. “We will organize the first World Club Championship and then study the situation and in the second one invite the NBA champion.”
Looks we won't be seeing any LeBron James or Kevin Garnett highlights in the inaugural tournament. But realistically, if an NBA team does join the event the team would have to sacrifice their pre-season games and FIBA rules apply in the tournament. Contrary to the NBA rules, it would be difficult for an NBA team to adjust in the International style of play. Teams from Europe, South America and Asia just to name a few, have applied FIBA rules in their respective pro-leagues. There's going to a lot of debate on whether or not an NBA team can contend in FIBA sanctioned tournaments.
A good example of a tournament wherein NBA players have competed and had a hard time adjusting to international rules would have to be The FIBA World Championships. I'm not saying an NBA team can't win the inaugural tournament but the contrasting styles of the NBA and International leagues is something to be considered. Of course, having a team from the NBA compete there would be very interesting and entertaining. Ball clubs from different continents won't have a problem preparing for 2010.
Having a tournament like this is something to look forward to. So for now, the NBA won't be participating for the debut of the World Basketball tournament come October 2010. If the tournament is a success, I guess it's just fitting that an NBA team should be in the mix for the next tournament. So NBA coaches, grab your FIBA rule book and start reading it.
Seems the only people who can join the tournament are the NBA scouts. Good luck with that one.
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