Player naturalisations

[Victorious]

And suddenly, by coincidence, the whole family becomes beloved Greek citizens .
The same thing everywhere, at different levels. Just like Turkish kids suddenly becoming real Germans once they start kicking the ball a little bit better, Algerians becoming real French etc. the same way.

As convenient as it is, these kids are born and raised in those countries and it only makes sense that they should have the opportunity to represent those countries if that is what they desire.

But yes, ironically, like athletes, singers, actors etc. these kids are second class citizens and all of the sudden become national VIP's. It is the effect of our primate tribal instinct.

[Baloo]

And suddenly, by coincidence, the whole family becomes beloved Greek citizens .
The same thing everywhere, at different levels. Just like Turkish kids suddenly becoming real Germans once they start kicking the ball a little bit better, Algerians becoming real French etc. the same way.

That actually talks more about nationalism of European states. Something like American rednecks all the way. Dude born there and have no passport. Shame on them.

[vaslover]

So, as i said above ( 07.19.2015 ), eventually Gavel would represent German NT in eurobasket.....Fuc..k, what is going on with Fiba Europe? Are they an idiots there or what?!....It,s fuc..ing DANGEROUS PRECEDENT actually..... Ok, when Evtimov or Kuqo have represented two different NTs i can accept it ( but if say truth, for me it,s abnormal situation as well),at least eventually they both have represented their NATIVE COUNTRY, but what the point was to give permission to the player who played for Slovak NT in FIBA EUROBASKET 2007, 2009,2011 division B and also he played for Slovak at the Eurobasket 2013 qualification tournament???! And after that he can represent German NT?!....Hmmmm....Maybe it,s time for us to give passport to Teodosic.....Why not actually, he,s like a 100% russian now.... We have enough money to give passport to any players in the world..... Guys, do you like this shit? I don,t like actually..... This abnormal decision by Fiba europe makes me sad. There are no words. Really.....

[Efesdxb]

It is ridiculous.
FIBA Europe is joke. Unfortunately run by a Turkish. Shame on Demirel and all previous presidents...

[Straight forward]

To be honest, I only wish to beat teams who use naturalized players even more. It's not like national team members don't talk about it. I'm pretty sure players feel exactly the same and say Teodosic' words that he wouldn't come to the NT if Serbia would naturalise anyone just confirm that. At least it will work as extra motivation for those national teams who has it's national values and most importantly the principles of fair competition.

[mojo13]

I thought this was pretty interesting - in the qualifiers leading up to the 2014 World Cup, 66 US born players played for 37 different countries (other than the US).
http://hoopshype.com/2013/09/04/plen...a-tournaments/
It is pretty ridiculous and only going to get worse.

I understand the one naturalized player rule - I don't like it, but at least it is clear. And I understand if your parents are born in another country, it is not so bad to think of yourself playing for that country (still it is a stretch). But I think it gets unethical trying to utilize "ethnic ties" through grandparents and great grandparents. Then it starts getting silly and it is quite obvious both the country and the player are trying to stretch the rules.

[Darknemo2000]

The Greek Federation has taken a stand against naturalisations for years, although we could have used a big man such as Mike Batiste, who lived in the country for about 10 years and had every right to citizenship. They say that such a move would be bad for team chemistry, and unfair to the young Greek guys who aspire to play for the NT. That said, we have no problem with using Greek-Americans who do not even speak the language, such as Koufos and Calathes. And now we have Giannis Antetokounmpo, who is the son of an imiigrant family, but was born and raised and lived his whole life in Greece. It's a complicated situation, and there are no "rights" or "wrongs". I can certainly tell you that everyone here was very sarcastic and bitter when we lost to a FYROM team led by an American who barely knew where Skopje was back in 2009. But we laughed our heads off with JR Holden's winner for Russia two years earlier. At least Holden used to live and work in Moscow for years.

I wouldnt have minded Batiste for Greece. After all at least he played a number of years. But now we have some teams shopping for one legionaire who never even played in their country just before the championship and then player has like 0 connection with the country. Such bullshit has to stop.

[Joško Poljak Fan]

Okay, but than again would it made all the difference in the world if the guy lived there for 2 or 3 years? Why is that exactly?
Don't you also think such rule is somewhat missing the basic purpouse for which Fiba keeps naturalisations going? As those can spark the popularity of bball in a bit less developed bball countries and it did so within the past decade, some of those really can use a naturalisation to be slightly more competitive and now with such rule you're basicaly saying that the NT's with strong league and teams paying big bucks to the players are the ones that are meant to benefit from the whole naturalisation thing... in that case, abolish the naturalisations altogether. As I keep saying these weren't created to make the strong stronger, yet that's exactly what they'll eventualy be turned into.

[Darknemo2000]

Okay, but than again would it made all the difference in the world if the guy lived there for 2 or 3 years? Why is that exactly?
Don't you also think such rule is somewhat missing the basic purpouse for which Fiba keeps naturalisations going? As those can spark the popularity of bball in a bit less developed bball countries and it did so within the past decade, some of those really can use a naturalisation to be slightly more competitive and now with such rule you're basicaly saying that the NT's with strong league and teams paying big bucks to the players are the ones that are meant to benefit from the whole naturalisation thing... in that case, abolish the naturalisations altogether. As I keep saying these weren't created to make the strong stronger, yet that's exactly what they'll eventualy be turned into.

I view it that way that if I player played long time in that country he did take in part of the culture and then I can understand if he becomes an NT member. I do think that amoun of years player has to spend in that country should be at least 5 though.

[Joško Poljak Fan]

In that case we should just completely abolish naturalisations as that rule will help only the already strong teams, due to having a strong league, while 1 naturalised player per team was meant as a push in quality, competitiveness, popularity for f.e. Macedonia, Georgia etc. that might only be missing one player and double their chances for some decent result at the same time, help promoting the bball and it's popularity accordingly. One naturalised player seems a small price for that. That logic loses it's sense and naturalisations should than be completely abolished as there isn't many chances some Georgian team might hold on to some US point guard that might actualy proove usefull for their NT, for 5 consecutive years, most of already good teams from countries with the best leagues will, further increasing the gap, while actualy naturalisations were primary meant as a tool to decrease that!
Than again countries with some superb youth schools might profit from it as well if they kept their foreign youngsters for a few years, but needless to say you won't see any top German prospects deciding to switch to play for Danemark, while with the Danish uncompetitive bball NT, it just might be the other way around... completely different direction than it should be, instead of helping the bball poorer country, the talent concentrating in the major ones instead.

This rant isn't pointed at you specificaly, Darknemo2000 just while getting over this thread, i realised people obviously forgot why naturalisations were agreed upon in the first place. It had it's logic which shouldn't be disregarded.

[Picek]

not sure if he was mentioned here but Blake Schilb could become a czech and play already at the EC.
if he will get the passport on time.
his wife is a czech and he played for Nymburk earlier..

[Dauf]

And suddenly, by coincidence, the whole family becomes beloved Greek citizens .
The same thing everywhere, at different levels. Just like Turkish kids suddenly becoming real Germans once they start kicking the ball a little bit better, Algerians becoming real French etc. the same way.

There are no algerians in the french team and all children borned on the french ground can claim the nationality with or without a ball. Let us outside of your nationality's supermarket. In fact, it's even quite the opposite lot of french borned, grown and trained in France use the nationality of their parents to play for other national team when they can't reach the french team. Algerian's football team is mostly french not the opposite. (16/23 last worldcup)

[ppp]

To be honest, I only wish to beat teams who use naturalized players even more. It's not like national team members don't talk about it. I'm pretty sure players feel exactly the same and say Teodosic' words that he wouldn't come to the NT if Serbia would naturalise anyone just confirm that. At least it will work as extra motivation for those national teams who has it's national values and most importantly the principles of fair competition.

I totally agree! It's better to be the last without naturalized players, than 1st with them for me.

[Upi]

In my opinion, it's just a matter of time before a naturalized player follows Jean-Marc Bosman's exemple and asks the European Court of Justice to rule on FIBA's one naturalized player per team rule, and then I won't be surprised if 12 naturalized players per national team will be permitted.

I don't see any relevance with the Bosman ruling here. It should only pretty much apply to professional leagues and national teams do not (or shouldn't at least, although I'm pretty sure e.g. Andray Blatche doesn't agree) really have anything to do with free movement of labour.

[madmax]

unforced turnovers...the never cured cancer of the lithuanian basketball
Why don't we just swallow our pride and adopt our own JR Holden or Bo Mccaleeb to contend for Gold as opposed to be fighting for the bronze medal? Times are changing and even greeks have their own athletic basketball god in Antetokoumpo, not to mention Baby Shaq Sofoklis as well. Let's stop playing the patriotic card and get on with times like the rest of the former white Europe has done...