[BktBallRef]

First, the FIBA rules have nothing to do with why Americans prefer our own version of basketball over what the rest of the world does. We simply have the best basketball in the world here. It seems as if this is what this discussion has boiled down to. But to discuss the rules before we get into the rest of it, as has been said, we only see FIBA rules every 4 years. That's why we're so unconcerned with it. And, as Mark said, we consider the professional leagues overseas as minor league. If a player can't make the NBA, then he goes to Europe. He can generally make a lot of money and can sometimes be the team's star player. Yet, he couldn't make the team in the NBA.

Originally posted by Oz Referee

I think it is interesting to note that FIBA and NBA (I can't speak for NF or NCAA) rules seem to be slowly gravitating towards each other and forming a compromise.

And why do you think that is? Could it be that FIBA has moved more towards the NBA rule standard since the NBA became involved in international play in 1992?

However, I do have a problem with this concept that because an American (or a Canadian working in the USA) developed the original game, then no other country or nationality can have any input as to the way the modern game is played.

I don't think anyone is saying that. The simple fact is that most Americans see the international game every 4 years. But we're exposed to HS, NCAA, and NBA from October to June of each year. For the most part, the level of play in FIBA is not what it is in the USA. Perhaps that's why some refer to it as "FEEBLE."

Let's face it, basketball is a global game, that is part of what makes it great. There are more non-americans than Americans playing the game.

I'm sure you can get us the figures to support such a bold statement.

Even at the elite level (NBA) there is an ever increasing number of non_americans playing (and excelling) so to say that basketball is a strictly American sport is conceited and blantently incorrect.

Yes, some international players have been successful in the NBA. I'm sure more will in the future. But it's still a very small percentage, easily less than 10%.

To those of you that have stated that the Olympics is not considered the pinnicle of basketball in America, I can understand your viewpoint, and you are entitled to your opinion. However, even Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan have stated that winning Olympic gold was the highlight of their career as it shows that they are truely the best in the world.

WHOA! Okay, here we go! I've followed Michael Jordan's career since he was a freshman at North Carolina in 1981. I saw him play in high school since he only lived about 90 miles away. I have never read or heard him say that winning the Olympic Gold medals were the highlight of his career. Can you provide references? I'm sure that it's one of the highlights of his career because he represented his country. But it certainly wasn't because it was played under FIBA rules.

He and Magic knew who the best players in world are long before the 1992 Olympics.