Cuban Rips NBA’s Agreement With FIBA

(Mavericks owner Mark) Cuban reiterated his longstanding criticism of the NBA’s agreement with FIBA, which stipulates that only players themselves can refuse their country’s invite to play for the national team except in the event of a “reasonable medical concern.” The San Antonio Spurs invoked that clause this week to prevent Manu Ginobili from representing Argentina at FIBA’s upcoming Basketball World Cup thanks to the lingering effects of a stress fracture.

“The greatest trick ever played was the IOC (International Olympic Committee) convincing the world that the Olympics were about patriotism and national pride instead of money. The players and owners should get together and create our own World Cup of Basketball.”

via Marc Stein of ESPN