LeBron done with USA hoops?

[Emcee77]

Report: Lebron James may never suit up for Team USA again

It always makes me sad to read stuff like this. I feel like US basketball players are the only athletes who think of playing for the national team as optional. Soccer players, hockey players ... these guys clamor to be included in national team activities.

I get that LeBron has played a lot of basketball over the last few years, going deep in to the playoffs every year, and that basketball is a harsh game on your joints. Maybe that's why top basketball players seem more likely to sit out international tournaments?

Is it being very unrealisticfanboy to feel like these guys should consider it an honor to play for the national team? I mean, David Beckham has a young family ... all he did during the late stages of his career is try his best to get back on England's national team. I'm just not sure I get why U.S. basketball players seem to have a different attitude toward international competition.

On a related note, one of the reasons Kevin Durant is my favorite NBA player is because of his commitment to the U.S. national team. Remember the 2010 world championships? All our other big stars turned down the chance to play. What did Durant do? Put Team USA on his back and brought home the gold. 2012 Olympics? Led the squad in points. 2014? First guy to sign up. I don't know, maybe it's because he grew up in D.C., but he loves to play for his country, and that's the type of athlete who inspires people.

I've never understood LeBron hate, I really haven't, but stuff like this doesn't help him.

/endrant

 

[NDinFL]

Lebron can go **** himself.

I don't think it's overly "fanboy" of you at all. It should be an honor to represent your country in international athletics.

 

[Irish2155]

It should be an honor to represent your country in international athletics.

He has, three times.

 

[NDdomer2]

he has also said this before and then everyone cried for him to come back. Don't give him the time of day.

 

[NDinFL]

He has, three times.

True.

I guess what my point was/is, is that they're using things like, "well he'll be 3 years older and he has kids."

So what? Is he the only NBA star that ages? Or has children?

 

[GowerND11]

I think part of the problem is competition in international basketball is generally lacking. Argentina, Spain, Germany, and some others have good programs, but overall talent in the world is not up to par. Therefore there could be an attitude amongst our best players that they don't need to compete internationally and USA would do well, even favored to win.

On the flip side, we need our best players to compete in soccer and hockey, and even baseball in the World Baseball Classic, and we still fall short more times than not. Therefore, maybe our top talent in those sports feel the need and desire to put the best team USA they can to try and win. Just food for thought.

 

[Emcee77]

I think part of the problem is competition in international basketball is generally lacking. Argentina, Spain, Germany, and some others have good programs, but overall talent in the world is not up to par. Therefore there could be an attitude amongst our best players that they don't need to compete internationally and USA would do well, even favored to win.

On the flip side, we need our best players to compete in soccer and hockey, and even baseball in the World Baseball Classic, and we still fall short more times than not. Therefore, maybe our top talent in those sports feel the need and desire to put the best team USA they can to try and win. Just food for thought.

That may be. I mean, we did win the gold in the 2010 world championships, and Durant was the only elite player to play.

But if Durant didn't play, we probably would not have won . . . I mean, we were third in the Athens Olympics in 2004 and in the 2006 world championships, weren't we? And that was with elite players. True, we are on a streak of three golds now (Beijing Olympics, 2010 worlds, London Olympics) but without our best players we won't be able to keep that streak alive.

 

[TheTurningPoint]

I have no problem with him not suiting up again. Like the article stated he will be 33-34 years old. The way he plays is a little different than a Kobe/Durant. Guy was responsible for getting Team USA back where they should be and devouted many summers to that.

His kids grow up once. Oct-June is NBA. June-Sept isnt a lot of time to have family time, considering he does have workout during that time.

This is part of him passing the torch. There is a lot of excellent talent that is from the USA now, and the NBA isnt at the point to just throw a team together anymore. At that point thats 15 years of NBA life on his body, props to him if he doesnt to know his body, and want to be there for his kids. I know many of you are fathers, and would sacrifices things for your children. This is the same, but he has also but in time to get Team USA back.

 

[NDdomer2]

I have no problem with him not suiting up again. Like the article stated he will be 33-34 years old. The way he plays is a little different than a Kobe/Durant. Guy was responsible for getting Team USA back where they should be and devouted many summers to that.

His kids grow up once. Oct-June is NBA. June-Sept isnt a lot of time to have family time, considering he does have workout during that time.

This is part of him passing the torch. There is a lot of excellent talent that is from the USA now, and the NBA isnt at the point to just throw a team together anymore. At that point thats 15 years of NBA life on his body, props to him if he doesnt to know his body, and want to be there for his kids. I know many of you are fathers, and would sacrifices things for your children. This is the same, but he has also but in time to get Team USA back.

soley responsible for where team usa is now?

 

[SaltyND24]

Lebron can go **** himself.

I don't think it's overly "fanboy" of you at all. It should be an honor to represent your country in international athletics.

 

[NDinFL]

Hahaha....

 

[phork]

The hate for Lebron, atleast on my end, isn't the fact that he chose to play in Miami with his pals. Who wouldn't want to work with their buddies? Its the douchebaggery way he did it and the lack of understanding of such.

As far as Team USA is concerned I think he has done his time, time to pass it on.

 

[Grahambo]

The man did 3 Olympics. Jordan only did 2. I'm more then okay with him passing it on and more then happy to let KD take it over. LBJ brought Gold home. Enough for me.

Thanks for the international battles LBJ.