I understand this topic has been done to death, but it seems completely asinine that this discussion has been reduced to pure semantics since the US’ triumph.
It comes across as completely obtuse to say there is any material difference between the FIBA World Cup and Olympics outside of the name. I mean, if you really want to get into the weeds of it the World Cup is a QUALIFIER for the Olympics so clearly it shouldn’t be held in such high regard. It just seems some are going out of their way to completely ignore the obvious hierarchy of basketball internationally in order to keep their pride intact.
Toronto says otherwise.
NBA literally means “National Basketball Association”. It just happens to have 1 team from Canada.
Are non Americans banned from playing in the NBA?
Or is it the peak league that all the best players from all over the world try to compete in?
It has never been about where the players are from, it was always about where the teams are located.
People only suddenly started caring where the players are from now in discussions about World Champion