By Aris Barkas/ barkas@eurohoops.net
When Luka Doncic grabbed his ankle yesterday, everyone hold their breath. With Toko Shengelia and Danilo Gallinari among others losing the upcoming Eurobasket due to injuries, there’s growing discontent, mainly among fans, about the fact that the August FIBA window practically extended the Eurobasket by one week.
However, there are two facts that need to be stressed. This year’s calendar is practically the last affected by COVID, which pushed the Eurobasket to 2022 after the delay of the Olympic Games by one year.
Plus, when the idea about the windows being tied with the Eurobasket was proposed, everyone involved, including players and federations, accepted with excitement, because they would be able in the same time slot to play official games in front of their home fans, help their team qualify for the World Cup and also be present in the Eurobasket.
The end result on the court was obvious. Two new records in Belgrade and Athens, a game to remember between Serbia and Greece, and headlines about European basketball all over the world.
That’s why the issue is much more complex and you can’t take a side on what’s a reality in sports all over the world. With sports becoming mainly a television spectacle there’s a growing need for more and more games. In basketball, we have entered an era in which playing 80 or 90 games per season is a given, not only for NBA teams but also for teams in Europe who are participating in multiple competitions.
It has to be noted that in recent years the FIBA tournaments despite the inclusion of more teams, are decided on fewer games. That means a maximum of nine games for the teams reaching the Eurobasket final from 11 back in 2013, and two extra free days, just eight games in the World Cup since 2019 with no back-to-back contests, just six games for the Olympics if you go all the way.
This proves once more the need for a calendar that will be decided by all the sports stakeholders and protect the main attraction of the sport, the players. Each side will point fingers and say that they are the less responsible for this situation and on many occasions, it boils down to each point of view.
After all, the injury that proved to be the most devastating of this summer was sustained by 20-years old Chet Holmgren on a Pro-Am league.
The truth is that every time a top athlete steps on the court, there’s always a risk of injury. And that’s why the players first and foremost must react to protect themselves.
And even if that’s via social media, it’s a start.
Ovdje ni lokum nije rahat… #komfort #IsmetHoro pic.twitter.com/mYYURfXTRv
— Jusuf Nurkić (@bosnianbeast27) August 29, 2022
The financial woes of the Bosnian federation are well known, but this image is simply unacceptable. And even if the federation is not able to secure a better way of protecting a top star like Jusuf Nurkic, then FIBA – which has already insured the players – must find a way to avoid the possibility of an NBA player ending up suffering from economy seat syndrome.
The notorious on-court stickers situation is something that can also be fixed.
And contrary to the risk of on-court accidents, those examples have to do with the traveling and playing conditions, and of course, the schedule. Those are things that can be controlled and improved.
The same applies to some calls seen by the refs during the windows, which are dangerous for everyone’s mental health, but let’s hope that this is already addressed…