why do most nba players dont play international games??
930019
because there isnt enough money going their way if they do so, they rather spend their time practiceing and preparing for their NBA games here, which is where they make the big bucks\ni dont blame them
710456
This is an interesting question, but I must admit I hate one on one basketball, unless it is within the confines of the team game. I feel it is what is destroying basketball in the US. Watch the international teams these days and see why the US can't win in at that level of competition anymore. Too much focus on the individual....
958273
Players are usually announced by their alma matas due to the popularity of college basketball. Like most other professional sports, players are drafted into the pros. To answer the question of why international players are announced by the country they are from is because technically international players are drafted from the national team they played for which is usually their country. (i.e. Yao Ming from China, Peja Stoyokavich from Serbia Montenegro). The last place they played before they became pro would be their alma mata (or what is announced). For example Dikembe Mutumbo is of African descent. However, he was recruited by Georgetown University, hence when his name was announced, he was named as a Georgetown player, not Dikembe Mutumbo from Africa.
111697
They don't have too. The NBA is mostly black players.Ane the majority of them are highly talented.  Skin complex?\n I don't think so.
986813
Europe has some excellent basketball players... they've been kicking our butts in international tournaments for quite a while now...\n\nThe travel expense would be too much for most NBA teams...NBA teams (that are in the same conference) play each other several times a season... one team might make 3 trips to one arena during the season... imagine making 3 trips to Europe, just to play one team.. of course, they could play ALL of their regular season games  against their European opponent while they're over there, and only go over one time... jet lag and traveling through many time zones would be a problem for the players.\n\nHowver, Europe has their own professional leagues.. the NBA won't be going there any time soon.
996410
No and Europeans dont play that ball either. The balls are illegal. Everyone plays the same size ball according to R&A rules.
428122
well first off. to be a center in the NBA you have to be at least 6'10 and above. do you know anyone above 6'10??\n\nit's hard to find ppl that are 6'10 and above. Gather all the 6'10 and above players..then filter the ones out that DONT pla y basketball. You have very few...then filter the ones that REALLY suck. Then you have VERY VERY few left. That's why. It's rare to find someone 6'10 and above..then even more rare to find someone that plays well at 6'10 and above.\n\nThere are more players that are 6foot even than 6'10 players. with that said, more skilled players can be found  in the 6'0 area than the 6'10 area. Plus, you're comparing these centers against the best in the world. They are playing in the world's most elite league. Put those centers such as Luc Longely type players in a league in Italy or in an Arab league..then they'd probably be a top contender. You also have to remember.. even if they're not REALLY REALLY GOOD..you have to remember they got into the NBA for a reason. Those who dont get into the NBA play overseased..n there's many of them.
988746
This is only true for those players playing in the US, those playing outside ie in the European Leagues are in similar pay scales. All are conditional to what the team they are playing for and what they think they are worth. The US based players get paid what they are worth based on the market. When the sport becomes as popular as basketball and baseball and the teams start making the same kind of money the salaries of US based players should increase.
347380
Qualifying takes over a year and clubs would not want to release players for internatinal games if they had to a international competition more often. Don't forget you have the european championships every 4 years, and the african nations cup and copa america also!
119712
because they cant play
529012
With all these star players they won't play well together. \nWhat I'm trying to say is with so many stars they each want the glory to themselves and won't play as a team.
84871
I haven't followed the NBA for many years for this very reason.\n\nWhile all professional sports seem to have their share of athletes who seem to only care about their statistics and how that translates into a paycheck, there seems to be a lot more of it in the NBA.
1028872
No current NBA players participated in the 1976 Summer Games. FIBA allowed professional athletes to play in international competition for the first time in 1989 and the next Olympics was in '92.
579303
I don't know about draft picks but I've believed that many NBA games are fixed for quite some time now and this year's playoffs are a good example.  The Lakers had no business taking the Suns to 7 just as the Cavs shouldn't have taken the Pistons to 7 (Don't get me wrong, I love the Cavs, but no talent outside of the King).  Who is on those teams?  Arguably the most engaging personality off the court (Kobe) and the most exciting player to watch on the court (LeBron).  those two guys = ratings = higher revenues for the NBA
137010
Don't be so quick to paint all athletes with the same broad brush. I am sure that many of them are motivated by championships or just plain love of the sport. Look at most of the Olympic Athletes. Even the champs aren't going to make much money off of it, yet  they are training like mad for the chance to be called the best in the world. Most younger athletes play a game for the love of the sport. As they get to be the best in the world, I do not believe that love or drive to be the best ever leaves them. I think this is why someone like michael jordan will try another sport like Baseball when he felt that he had accomplished everything he could in basketball. It is also why so many athletes play golf, a game in which they are not the best in but work hard to improve in..
584126
It's not you, NBA refs are awful. Certain ones seem to carry grudges for teams/players for years. They're never consistent with a call. Stars get one set of calls, scrubs another. And when it comes to the playoffs, these zebras think that the cameras/fans/cheerleaders are there to see them. LET THEM PLAY! That said, sure, the players are more athletic, the action much faster but for gawd sake, can't they call 'Travelling' every now and again? Compared to the big three sports, NBA refs are the worst.
807699
Because white people can't play basketball?!?!?! There are a few players who's not white though.