NBA players who want to represent the USA go through various camps.

These guys risk injury leaving their house, at regular trainings, etc. The main difference is that injuries in non-professional play standout because they're very public.

We just have to get used to some players sitting out international series at their choice or that of their club. So be it.

Lemanis is already resting players in these Euro games. I doubt he's whipping guys at training who would be coming off fairly full seasons.

Team USA does not have a full time coach who dedicates 100% of his time to coaching team USA, therefore they conduct camps and tryouts also more to the point the USA could have 3 teams all good enough to medal so there is an actual choice of players.....We don't have that although from the production we put on you would think we do.
It's a little much I think to ask these guys to do all this at the end of the day these guys are Pros and shouldn't need 4 weeks to pick up an offense and learn team concepts. Resting guys to me would have been saying Mills Bogut Delly Exum don't do Europe we will have a short camp before NZ series we will see you there.....take a young team to Europe and continue the development process.

And if these players aren't playing and training with their National team they would still be training and scrimmaging away from their NBA club and could still get injured.

NBA execs may put big money into their players, but they can't wrap them up in bubble wrap and hide them from the world for six months of the year.

NBA players will play basketball in one form or another year- round. The upside to an NBA player playing for the national team is atleast they are playing in competitions where there are official rules, regulations and medical staff on hand. You might not get that if you decide to play some games at the local courts.

As for an NBA players commitment to the national team, it is up to them whether they want to take on the commitment. Sure, don't completely flog those guys in training, but I don't think a 4 game Euro trip is asking too much of these guys.

In Pattys situation, he should have always been allowed to come later on.

I think the issue is these nothing games for a warm up... They mean zero, and as a result the players go in half hearted. It seems like players get more injuries in these games than those that have some meaning for international play

Didn't PG13 snap his leg in a USA scrimmage last year. Injuries can happen at anytime in the off season (hi Boozer) it sucks when its a player you've endeared yourself too. Long term, he'll be fine.

Remember the NBA Lockout a couple of years back....there were countless NBA "stars" playing on gravel tracks with fans sprawled halfway across the courts during play. Gone are the days where players can blame their NBA franchise for not being in a position to participate....the modern excuse is injury or worse, fatigue!

Injury can happen everywhere. I think the NBA needs to buy each player a big bubble to live in during the off season.

Plus how many times do you hear of players sustaining injuries just at practice, it's the nature of the beast.....it happens and usually at the worst time too

Pretty sure you'd have more to complain about if the team only came together a couple of days before a qualifying game or an Olympics etc. with 0 practice time together don't think they'd get very far