How much would Dwayne Wade like?

$500......$50,000?

Their insurance should be paid to their clubs.

Thy say they should get paid then frame their argument that they don't get enough time to rest, what will money do? This is stupid.

They should get money if a jersey is sold with their name on the back I think..

So what, Nike gets paid for players going to the Olympics but the players dont?

Getting paid to play, no, but a percentage of merch sales which uses their name, yes.

Ha - tell that to the athletes in lesser sports who train full time for years just to get their shot at olympic glory while surviving on part time work and help from family members.

alexkrad, presumably Nike (as an example) would pay a great deal of money to be an official supplier/endorser. Jersey sales would be one way to make some of that back.

If the athletes think playing at that level is not worth the risk, they should just sit it out and let someone else more willing take the opportunity.

Spot on VC Fan, is the issue the fact that your body needs to rest or you need more money?

What's Wade on, $15m a season? How much would he expect to make from the Olympics? Another million? Would he even notice this amount or would it just be thrown on top of the pile?

I get that looking after your body is important, and that the NBA season is particularly gruelling, but seriously, this is the Olympics and these NBA players would be better paid than virtually every other athlete competing (elite tennis players perhaps the other mutli millionaires?). Money won't make their bodies heal faster.

The yanks should go back to sending their best college players. Use it as a pre-draft camp to hype potential lottery picks.

I think its hilarious that Wade says its about rest, yet money helps????

"If the athletes think playing at that level is not worth the risk, they should just sit it out and let someone else more willing take the opportunity."

Bingo.

If you're being paid millions of dollars AND being given the chance to win a gold medal for your country, don't whine and moan.

Man up and say "the season has been too grueling to commit to an Olympic campaign, so I will sit out and give someone else a spot to represent the country". Hell, give someone who earns less money the chance to get themselves some glory.

As Australians, the pinnacle achievement all basketballers dream about is donning the green and gold at the Olympic Games.

These ridiculous comments from Ray Allen, Dwyane Wade and to a lesser extent, Rajon Rondo, are ridiculous. All three of these players have been officially added to my shit list.

Wade has since come out to clarify the comments regarding this story.

Wade has said he was answering a journalist question who asked him if he thinks they should be paid and Wade said yes.

Wade did not state personally that he wants payment.

And if you get paid for being at the Olympics, I beleive that disqualifies you from being there.

It is supposed to be an "amateur" competition. They only relaxed the rules a few years ago to allow "professionals" to represent their country.

They only relaxed the rules a few years ago to allow "professionals" to represent their country.