Pau Gasol breaks his finger while training with Spanish national team.

[Now_Im_Not_Banned]

LOL@Daygo.. signing a contract with an NBA team doesn't mean you're signing over your life. it's pretty ridiculous to expect a ban on nba players representing their country in their own time.

[wcsoldier]

By your logic , NBA teams should also forbid their US stars to play for Team USA ...  As Antonio said , this is a culture to play for his nation in every sport in every countries ( outside the US  ) ... if the NBA teams are not sastified by this , fine,  do not hire any non US players ... Spurs would have not shit without TP and Gino in the 2000s so I hate when your fuckin GM gave order to TP to come back in the US just to do medical tests ( results were the same than those done by the French doctors  ...

what makes me laugh is that the majority of the US NBA fans think that Euro or the World Championship are the equivalent of the summer league ... these competitions are MAJOR for every country in every sport ... again besides the great narrow minded USA ...


If I were the people who run things at FIBA Basketball , I'd say : " NBA teams annoy the national teams and try to prevent their players to represent their country , let's prevent the US NBA Players to play in FIBA competition" ...

wcsoldier is a Euro? LOL wow...you should represent where your from...and not the Westcoast of the US lol.

This shit is so simple. Playing in leagues other then the NBA when you are an employee of an NBA franchise is a conflict of interest. Its the same as ANY OTHER business.  If you are an employee of Coca Cola, you are not allowed to also be an employee of Pepsico.  A team has the right to make exceptions (as in, the Olympics..where players could play for their national team).  My point is, that when a franchise spends the money on a player...they should also be able to dictate whether that player plays in other leagues during the off season.  As I said before, if they can dictate whether you are allowed to ride a motorcycle...they should definetely dictate this. Also, as I said...Euro franchises SHOULD do the same for their players.  The reason this isnt an issue on your side is because Europe gets most of the NBA's leftovers. The Euros playing here, are the stars from there. The Americans playing there, are NOT the stars from here. If the roles were reversed...and all of our big name players were members of Euro franchises and being payed a ton of money to win those franchises championships, no one there would want them coming out here for leagues in the off season and risking injury that would hurt your teams/ leagues.

I ain't representin shit ... I'm just tellin it like it is ...  Did the Spurs complain about Duncan playin in 2004 ? ..... end of the discussion ... of course it's unfornutate to lose a player for significant time but that's a risk for every player ... I'd would be pissed if we lose Gasol for an entire season if he gets injured during the tournament and as a Lakers fan I'd prefer him to rest .. but the decision only belongs to him

[7even]

LOL!

If Parker should not be allowed to play for France, neither should LeBron play for the US I let you figure out how retarded that is 

LOL@a Spurs fan out of all people bitching about "not as good" European players 

[.:DaYg0sTyLz:.]

LOL@Daygo.. signing a contract with an NBA team doesn't mean you're signing over your life. it's pretty ridiculous to expect a ban on nba players representing their country in their own time.

but a team can restrict a players ability to do a million things that are considered recreational (im not talkin about drugs).  They COULD restrict this as well if they choose to. Youre arguing with me because others are and you feel it necessary to join in.  Dont call others sheep when you are acting sheepish yourself.

[.:DaYg0sTyLz:.]

By your logic , NBA teams should also forbid their US stars to play for Team USA ...  As Antonio said , this is a culture to play for his nation in every sport in every countries ( outside the US  ) ... if the NBA teams are not sastified by this , fine,  do not hire any non US players ... Spurs would have not shit without TP and Gino in the 2000s so I hate when your fuckin GM gave order to TP to come back in the US just to do medical tests ( results were the same than those done by the French doctors  ...

what makes me laugh is that the majority of the US NBA fans think that Euro or the World Championship are the equivalent of the summer league ... these competitions are MAJOR for every country in every sport ... again besides the great narrow minded USA ...


If I were the people who run things at FIBA Basketball , I'd say : " NBA teams annoy the national teams and try to prevent their players to represent their country , let's prevent the US NBA Players to play in FIBA competition" ...

wcsoldier is a Euro? LOL wow...you should represent where your from...and not the Westcoast of the US lol.

This shit is so simple. Playing in leagues other then the NBA when you are an employee of an NBA franchise is a conflict of interest. Its the same as ANY OTHER business.  If you are an employee of Coca Cola, you are not allowed to also be an employee of Pepsico.  A team has the right to make exceptions (as in, the Olympics..where players could play for their national team).  My point is, that when a franchise spends the money on a player...they should also be able to dictate whether that player plays in other leagues during the off season.  As I said before, if they can dictate whether you are allowed to ride a motorcycle...they should definetely dictate this. Also, as I said...Euro franchises SHOULD do the same for their players.  The reason this isnt an issue on your side is because Europe gets most of the NBA's leftovers. The Euros playing here, are the stars from there. The Americans playing there, are NOT the stars from here. If the roles were reversed...and all of our big name players were members of Euro franchises and being payed a ton of money to win those franchises championships, no one there would want them coming out here for leagues in the off season and risking injury that would hurt your teams/ leagues.

I ain't representin shit ... I'm just tellin it like it is ...  Did the Spurs complain about Duncan playin in 2004 ? ..... end of the discussion ... of course it's unfornutate to lose a player for significant time but that's a risk for every player ... I'd would be pissed if we lose Gasol for an entire season if he gets injured during the tournament and as a Lakers fan I'd prefer him to rest .. but the decision only belongs to him

What does Duncan have to do with this discussion?  My opinion is able to be unique from that of the Spurs organization.  Do you form your own...or are they based off of the Lakers organization opinions?

[.:DaYg0sTyLz:.]

LOL!

If Parker should not be allowed to play for France, neither should LeBron play for the US I let you figure out how retarded that is 

LOL@a Spurs fan out of all people bitching about "not as good" European players 

LeBron play for the US??  Are some of you retarded or just not reading what Im typing?  I said, in Olympic play I would not have a problem.  But yes, a team can restrict a player from playing in leagues other then the NBA during the off season.  LeBron is American, and plays in the NBA.  How does he fit into this discussion?  If LeBron went and played for a franchise in Europe....I would believe that that franchise should be able to put a restriction on him coming here and playing in a league during the off season. As Ive said before, NBA franchises put restrictions on players ability to play in summer leagues out here for the reason of not getting hurt. The fact that they are European should not change that.  Point blank, when you sign the contract you are an employee of that team.  You can put virtually anything into a contract to protect your player/ investment.

As far as being a Spurs fan...again, irrelevant to this conversation.  Is Parker good? Yes. Is he LeBron, Kobe, Wade, etc....I dont think so.

[Mac 10 †]

You wouldn't class this as Laker related news? Which would probably be better placed in the Laker thread.

gasol breaking his finger=headline


laker thread is for small updates and in-game discussion


have a nice day

Sick-Boy, did you forget that NIK runs the sports section and can do whatever the fuck he wants?

Silly lad.

[7even]

LOL!

If Parker should not be allowed to play for France, neither should LeBron play for the US I let you figure out how retarded that is 

LOL@a Spurs fan out of all people bitching about "not as good" European players 

LeBron play for the US??  Are some of you retarded or just not reading what Im typing?  I said, in Olympic play I would not have a problem.  But yes, a team can restrict a player from playing in leagues other then the NBA during the off season.  LeBron is American, and plays in the NBA.  How does he fit into this discussion?  If LeBron went and played for a franchise in Europe....I would believe that that franchise should be able to put a restriction on him coming here and playing in a league during the off season. As Ive said before, NBA franchises put restrictions on players ability to play in summer leagues out here for the reason of not getting hurt. The fact that they are European should not change that.  Point blank, when you sign the contract you are an employee of that team.  You can put virtually anything into a contract to protect your player/ investment.

As far as being a Spurs fan...again, irrelevant to this conversation.  Is Parker good? Yes. Is he LeBron, Kobe, Wade, etc....I dont think so.

Hey fag, he did not play "in another league". LOL

He trained with the spanish national team for the Euro 2009.

That's like LeBron training with Team USA for the Copa Americas.

[Antonio]

@ DaYg0sTyLz:.

The EURO Championships and the WC Championships are two Tournaments organized by FIBA, and LMAO they're not comparable to SummerLeague or some minor tournaments organized by the NBA for the simple fact that, just to let you know, FIBA is above the NBA. The U.S. Federation joined FIBA in 1934, so basically they have to act by their rules. And the rule is that club teams from every country (Los Angeles Lakers, San Antonio Spurs but alsto Olimpia Milano, Panatinaikos, Siena, etc..) can't prevent their players to play for Tournaments organized by the FIBA. So the Lakers can't prevent Gasol to play in the European Championships organized by FIBA Europe. On the other end, Gasol can't refuse to play for his National team too, cause it represents the Spanish Federation, and they can even ban him if he refuses to play. But maybe you don't know Gasol'd die just to represent his country, so it's a non-issue: HE WANTS TO PLAY, AND NOBODY CAN STOP HIM FROM DOING IT. Bye.

[Now_Im_Not_Banned]

LOL@Daygo.. signing a contract with an NBA team doesn't mean you're signing over your life. it's pretty ridiculous to expect a ban on nba players representing their country in their own time.

but a team can restrict a players ability to do a million things that are considered recreational (im not talkin about drugs).  They COULD restrict this as well if they choose to. Youre arguing with me because others are and you feel it necessary to join in.  Dont call others sheep when you are acting sheepish yourself.

naah, man, i'm not you LOL...i dont take things personal, i just really do think your argument is irrational. i know teams COULD do it...doesn't mean it wouldnt be stupid and fucked up as hell.