Heat v Olympiacos … Could We See a FIBA Club World Cup Sometime Soon?

David Stern, commissioner of the NBA, has tossed around the idea of a World Cup of Basketball over the last few days. (Click here to see more information on WC of Basketball.)

It’s been articulated by Stern that the Olympics would start to resemble the style put together by FIFA, the International Federation of Soccer, and play U-23 (Under 23 years old) players only.  Thus, Olympic basketball would go back to more of an amateur kind of look.

It’s a very good idea for owners to come together and partner with FIBA, the International Federation of Basketball, to brand the event and profit from it together.  In fact, it seems over due, what took so long to figure this out?

One question comes to mind: which court markings will they use? The rectangular NBA key/paint or the trapezoid international key/paint?  Probably, the court will stay with the international look.

Another question is: what comes next? What else will generate revenue for NBA owners?

Down the line, at some point, a FIBA Club World Cup has to be on its way.  Why reinvent the wheel? Keep borrowing ‘the big idea’ from FIFA.

As noted in the Kenyon Martin Chinese Basketball club case, FIBA is itching to instill more of its will on the game. NBA owners can either get on board or maybe miss a huge money grab opportunity.

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