By Aris Barkas/ barkas@eurohoops.net
As FIBA is examining the details of the national teams qualifying games windows and Euroleague still has its objections the players are caught in the middle as Vasilis Spanoulis explained.
And Spanoulis, as every European player, will have it relatively easy in the new status quo. During the season the players of the top teams in Europe will have to leave their clubs for nine days periods during which they will play two national team games. The best case scenario for them will be two home national team games while playing for a club of their country. That means no extra travels.
The worst case scenario, however, is bordeline crazy. An Argentinian like Andres Nocioni, or an American who may play for the national team of his country – something that can’t be excluded, since the NBA will not be letting its players compete in qualifying games – would have to leave Europe and return in nine days and meanwhile he may cross half the American continent. That may means 30 to 40 hours of flight, two transatlantic journeys and just two days of recovery before a Euroleague game. It’s obvious that the teams want to protect their players and the ongoing debate between FIBA and Euroleague will not end up easily.