After Stern suggested there be a 23-year-old age limit implemented in Olympic basketball, Team USA leader Kobe Bryant summed up his thoughts on the proposal without mincing words.
"It's a stupid idea," Bryant told the media.
Always the first to insert his comments into a given situation, Kobe had actually thought this one through, as was evident by the rare presence of supporting rationale.
"It should be a [player's] choice," he added. "Our discussion is this: Basically, it's just a dumb idea and we [discuss] it that way."
Well maybe not. But hear him out on this one, Kobe is actually onto something.
The "our" in which Kobe is referring to is of course the rest of Team USA who the majority of, in accordance with Stern's proposed limitation, wouldn't be allowed to participate in the Olympic Games. And for that reason, the statute is nothing short of ridiculous.
The rule Stern proposed is this: players must be 23 years of age or younger and a team is additionally allowed to take three players who exceed the age limit. If it looks familiar, it's probably because this is the same statute used in Olympic soccer.
First and foremost, Stern is way overreaching his extent of authority, and it's not really clear as to why. Not only does he not have the influence to make a change of this magnitude, but why he would even suggest one is strange in itself.
Let's pretend the rule went into effect for this summer's London Games, just weeks away.
With the rule in place, Kobe, LeBron James, Chris Paul, Tyson Chandler, Carmelo Anthony, Deron Williams and Andre Iguodala would exceed the age limit. Only three of those seven would be able to join the roster as the additional names. To leave the remaining players off the roster would be devastating, no matter which trio you go with. You will be missing something, no matter what. Each player currently on the team was chosen for a specific reason and to rip more than half of them from the lineup would throw off the entire symmetry of the team.
Granted, you would still have Kevin Durant, Kevin Love, Russell Westbrook and James Harden as the foundation of your squad – – still not bad considering the core of that hypothetical team are three players who just led Oklahoma City to its first ever NBA title appearance. But would they stack up against other international teams without Kobe, LeBron or Melo?
Besides the pure competition aspect of the whole thing there is a far more fundamental, and dare I say, sentimental reason to detest the thought of this age limit.
These older players have earned the right to compete for their country. The Games are not a prize to be won by starry eyed amateurs with mere hopes of Olympic grandeur or a contest reserved for only young players, but rather a testament to the skill and effort of those who have worked hard enough to truly deserve a spot on the roster.
The Olympics are an assessment of a country's ability to compete against the rest of the world. That's what it has always been about — regardless of age, that's what it has always been about. For athletes to be able to wrap themselves in their flag after a win or to hear their country's national anthem being played as they stand atop the podium is the utmost honor they can achieve, so why put an age limit on the pursuit to accomplish that?
Additionally, Olympic basketball is popular mainly because of the superstars that show up to play – – just ask anyone who lived through or saw the "Dream Team" documentary. Professional players on an Olympic team are not only fun to watch, but are good for the game as well. They draw attention and discussion to the game and help spread it on a global scale.
So why the commissioner of the NBA wouldn't want to broaden the basketball spectrum is beyond me. I don't say this often, but I'm going with Kobe on this one.
