Phil Jackson understands, tolerates International Play

[maw]

I have no scientific basis for this statement, it's purely a matter of my opinion based on what I regularly see on TV and all over the net. Most Americans cannot seem to fully grasp the pride and honor that international players have for representing their country.

In fact just a couple of weeks ago, some posters on ESPN were bashing these players for playing for their national teams and suggested that they should only play for their respective NBA teams. I know these are just a handful of posters, but this is the general perception that I get from my everyday experiences.

The international players in the NBA wouldn't even think twice in playing for their national teams, even to the extent of playing injured like Ginobili and Yao for example. No offense to Kobe and Wade, but I don't even know why they would have to think about whether they want to play for their national team in the World Championships.

[Franz]

The fact that he's never coached Team USA and has always rejected a coaching spot just shows how much he thinks about international play.

I admire Jackson for being a great coach but he's pretty much wired to his own American centrism which I hate.

[Dtown]

He's entitled to his opinion for sure, but for me he has no respect for the International game at all. Quite a few of his players come from overseas and if he can't respect where they came from and developed their game he has no value to me as a coach, man or character. This sums up the general American opinion for me, arrogant, no respect and greed.
F*ck him.

What happened to the honor of one's country.

Note I don't agree with him.

In fact I'll bold that. Just in case anyone lumps all us Americans together again.

I do no agree with him.

But international fans fail to realize just how new club vs. country disputes are to the US. Less than 10 years old I'd put it, in ANY sport (MLS was too young and minor league, NHL has only used pros about a decade). Coinciding with explosion of international talent in the NBA, and the US no longer being able to send an all-star teams to win.

Before 1992 the NBA had nothing to do with the international game. Before about 2000 so few players were active parts in the international game, it was seen as a four year thing. Now it's just about every year in some players cases, and this is completely alien to any coach/gm/owner that's been in the game for awhile. So while I don't agree him, people saying how dense he is are basically ignoring history.

Also it's not an American opinion by any stretch, as you'll be hard pressed to find fans are as hostile to the concept as management.

[Chigusa]

He's entitled to his opinion for sure, but for me he has no respect for the International game at all. Quite a few of his players come from overseas and if he can't respect where they came from and developed their game he has no value to me as a coach, man or character. This sums up the general American opinion for me, arrogant, no respect and greed.
F*ck him.

What happened to the honor of one's country.

It is never wise to take the opinion of one individual, and attempt to generalize a whole league or even worse, a nation, based off that one individual's view. There is no monolithic NBA or American opinion about international basketball. Some coaches/gms do not care either way, others have stronger opinions. The point is that generalizing in any compacity is poor form. It is even worse than what people accuse Americans of.

Once again we have a quote here that is blown out of porportion. Jackson clearly made these comments in a media day setting where he was asked the question of international basketball in the context of his players & injuries. The OC register's title of "Jackson is not a fan of international basketball", is extremely misleading, but a typical journalistic tactic. And this website will take a certain point of view as well, however I think we are taking something and sprinting with it if we really believe Jackson doesn't respect or tolerate international basketball.

“We have always been reluctant about our players playing internationally,” Jackson said Thursday. “We know that it’s a necessary part of the game. Some of these players are $100-million properties and they are going into a situation that only has diminishing returns.

If he didn't tolerate or respect international basketball, he wouldn't have bothered to say that much. And even if he didn't say that much, it would still be ludicirous to suggest that he doesn't 'understand' these Fiba tournaments. He has had international players on his team for a long time, the guy has probably forgotten more about the international game than most of us will ever know. Please..understand that he coming strictly from a Laker's point of view, not league or country.

From reading these headlines, one could get the image of Jackson smashing his TV and cursing the moment he sees an international game. And I doubt that is the case.

[HIGHLANDER]

He's entitled to his opinion for sure, but for me he has no respect for the International game at all. Quite a few of his players come from overseas and if he can't respect where they came from and developed their game he has no value to me as a coach, man or character. This sums up the general American opinion for me, arrogant, no respect and greed.
F*ck him.

What happened to the honor of one's country.

[Dtown]

While I don't agree with his statement, I certainly understand it and don't think it's stupid at all.

His job is to have the Lakers win, that's it. When his players get hurt over the offseason, before getting ready for an 82 game grind (and being the lakers there goal is generally over a 100 games) of course he's not happy about it and is reluctant to see them go.

So long as he's not actively campaigning to prevent them from going, it's his opinion and he's entitled to it.

[HIGHLANDER]

I find this statement by Jackson to be a little bit small mindedness.
Although i think it kind of sums up most people in the States general attitude to International basketball. Especially from such a well respected man and coach.
All i can say is fuck off ya wanker.

However i do believe that some do not feel the same.
For example when the States won the World Champ you could see how much it meant to the American players at the end of the final. So respect for that.

[rikhardur]

Actually I have the impression that this opinion is really shared around the NBA. Then only one question remains: Why are US guys [the elite players, franchise guys that generate millions, where an injury would be catastrophic for the franchise] allowed to play for the country whereas with the international guys it's always a big drama?

Yeah I ask the same. Next time Phil keep your mouth shut.

[durden_tyler]

You kind of clipped that quote Stuart



full article http://lakers.freedomblogging.com/20...al-play/22739/

The meaning changes a lot compared to Stuart's snipped quote Phil Jackson has a point.

[Chigusa]

You kind of clipped that quote Stuart

“I think there is a lot of feelings among the coaches in the league that as much as players may improve their game, some of our players that are older and experienced, like Pau and Kobe . . . there’s nothing to be gained from it except fame and the shoe contracts that go along with that type of stuff.”

full article http://lakers.freedomblogging.com/20...al-play/22739/

Gasol broke his left finger during practice with the Spanish National team and Slovenian Sasha Vujacic injured his knee after participating in practices leading up to the Euro championships this summer. Although both are healthy now, Phil Jackson still doesn’t like idea of his players competing during the summer.

“We have always been reluctant about our players playing internationally,” Jackson said Thursday. “We know that it’s a necessary part of the game. Some of these players are $100-million properties and they are going into a situation that only has diminishing returns.

In my opinion this is the main angle he is coming from. The 'nothing to be gained' and shoe contract stuff is just extra fluff, but I doubt that he hates or really dislikes international basketball. He probably dislikes the idea of his players playing international basketball. Kind of a difference.

[robbe]

Actually I have the impression that this opinion is really shared around the NBA. Then only one question remains: Why are US guys [the elite players, franchise guys that generate millions, where an injury would be catastrophic for the franchise] allowed to play for the country whereas with the international guys it's always a big drama?

[Toxicity]

Wouwww, it was harsh, i like him a lot actually, i don't wanna believe that his vision is that limited in terms of world basketball view. It sounds like he is ignorant.

Yeah, his vision seems limited a lot by speaking like that...

[LordOfLeyte]

Could be one of the most memorable quotes of 2009.

[alermac]

Wouwww, it was harsh, i like him a lot actually, i don't wanna believe that his vision is that limited in terms of world basketball view. It sounds like he is ignorant.

It's not ignorance, i think. He is just defending his interests. Although I do find strange that such a well-read man doesn't take culture and pride into the math when considering this topic.

[ataman5]

Wouwww, it was harsh, i like him a lot actually, i don't wanna believe that his vision is that limited in terms of world basketball view. It sounds like he is ignorant.