Paul George’s injury sustained while training for the US national team was horrific to watch and even more painful to endure in the sense that a phenomenal young player’s career was derailed.
What the injury also did was raise some key questions. Should the NBA’s best players – individuals who have multi-million dollar contracts and are pillars in their respective playing cities – put themselves at risk by taking part in a summer tournament like the upcoming FIBA World Cup, which is relatively meaningless in the context of basketball in the US?
Should NBA teams have a say on whether or not they want their top players competing?
After all, they’re the ones assuming the risk, not the International Olympic Committee, who Dallas Mavericks’ owner Mark Cuban has angrily criticised in the wake of George’s injury.
All questions to consider, but they’re also an overreaction. Players in all sport compete in games, practices and scrimmages during the off-season. That’s how they improve and keep their skills sharp.
To blame George’s injury on the situation – an intra-squad scrimmage between Team USA players – ignores the fact that the same incident, or any other injury, could occur in one of countless everyday training sessions.
There’s the argument that directly competing with other players in games increases the risk of contact and physicality – factors that could lead to injuries.
While that’s true, we’ve seen plenty of non-contact injuries on the most routine movements such as running up the court or planting a foot.
Derrick Rose, who sat out the entire 2012-13 season after tearing the ACL in his left knee in the 2012 playoffs, suffered a torn meniscus in his right knee early in his comeback campaign on a play where he simply turned awkwardly.
There was no contact with any player and he didn’t even have the ball. Yet Rose is back on the court in a competitive setting for the first time at Team USA’s training camp.
The 2011 MVP wants to not only get his feet back under him, but also be mentally prepared to hit the ground running next season. He can’t be afraid to get injured whenever he steps foot on a court. Playing fearlessly is what made him such a devastating force.
Cuban’s issue of teams not controlling their players’ decision to play internationally is somewhat ironic considering his franchise player, Dirk Nowitzki, has played a huge role for Germany basketball.
Players have pride putting on their country’s uniform. To take that decision out of their hands is unfair and undermines what an event like the Olympics or the World Cup is all about.
It also begs the question of where the line is drawn. If teams can keep their players from competing in international games, can they also force them not to play pick-up at some random gym?
One of those generates money that’s not going to the NBA, however. So is it really about preserving the players or just about being the ones to capitalise on the profits?
George’s injury was unfortunate and a shock to the system of everyone associated with basketball. But it was also a freak occurrence. Injuries are part of sport and that will never change.
