Sure, some NBA players have chosen not to play (but, I note, that this list also includes players who have decided to play in the past, which, again, brings me back to my point about it not making sense to argue that people who think the games are silly/waste of time go/have gone to the games, thereby increasing risk of injury, which would harm their ability to play in the NBA), would play in the games. Still, the last I checked, none of these players have claimed that they thought the games were silly/waste of time. And with the Zika outbreak, its even more ridiculous in my view to claim that those players believe the games are silly/waste of time. In fact, while players like Curry have openly stated they're not playing in order not to aggravate recovery knee injury, others have apparently claimed concerns about Zika (which is a real concern for people trying to have children) as a serious concern:
Stephen Curry will opt out of the Olympics, and more NBA players could follow - SBNation.com Not to mention that other NBA stars have mentioned injury/concern for injury as their reason for missing. Ultimately, though, you do have a team comprised of NBA/pros players. While some NBA players may never play in the Olympics (perhaps even because they think the games are "silly" or a waste of time), I don't know how you, especially given the considerations I've mentioned, can serious claim that those players who actually DO decide to play (and, ultimately, this conversation is about them) believe that the games are silly. But, again, every interview/reaction I've seen from NBA players participating in the Olympics have expressed great pride/patriotism in playing for their country during the games. I've never heard a participant in the games say otherwise.
And I'll concede the team is not "best" that the US has to offer, but its still pretty darn good. Moreover, though, due in large part because of the inclusion of a largely NBA squad, the team is likely far better than a team that would be comprised solely of amateurs and remains the best team going into the games.
The fact is that you have provided nothing/poor logic to suggest that NBA players playing in the games believe the games are silly/a waste of time. Meanwhile, the analysis that the players do not believe as you claim when they are willing to risk injury/earnings potential by deciding to play is far stronger.
Umm, I merely looked at the scores for Team USA at the Olympics before FIBA allowed professionals to play (apparently, you didn't).
But, here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_o...t_the_Olympics
-1936: 20.75 average point differential
-1948: 33.5 average point differential
-1952: 19.5 average point differential
-1956: 53.5 average point differential
-1960: 42.375 average point differential
-1964: 30 average point differential
-1968: 26 average point differential
-1972: 28.777 average point differential
-1976: 14 average point differential
-1984: 32.125 average point differential
-1988: 30.375 average point differential
____________________________________ (NBA era)________________________
-1992: 43.75 average point differential
-1996: 31.625 average point differential
-2000: 21.265 average point differential
-2004: 4.625 average point differential
-2008: 27.875 average point differential
-2012: 32.125 average point differential
Even in the pre-NBA/professional era where there the US didn't win gold when it played (the few times that that happened . . . of course, they also haven't always won gold in the post-NBA era), the overwhelming majority of its games were still blowouts. Interesting (and I only compared the last 6 games without pros/NBA players to account for the fact that there have only been 6 games where pros have been allowed to play, the average point differential (26.8795) is HIGHER than the average point differential once NBA players have been allowed to play (26.8775) . . .
if you count all of the pre-NBA era games, the gap becomes even larger.
The fact is that, even in the pre-NBA era (as shown above), Team USA was still blowing away its competition. We should celebrate greatness, not try to limit it by instituting some form of perverse affirmative action for athletes.
Also, even if I agree that the championship for basketball is the NBA championship, that point does nothing to seriously support your contention that NBA players (in the fact of their public proclamations in support of country/national team when playing AND given the fact that they are risking injury to play for country, which threatens to hurt their ability to earn the NBA championship) believe the Olympics are silly
If anything, given what I've argued about risking injury, etc., the fact that the NBA championship is the premier basketball championship only greatly weakens claims that the NBA players who play in the Olympics believe the games are silly.
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