However, this injury also resulted in a plethora of social media backlash, all centered on the topic of risking star athletes health in international competition. At the helm of this outrage is Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban. From his perspective, his investment is being put at risk when his players take part in international competitions. It is why the San Antonio Spurs told Manu Ginobili that he would not be allowed to participate for his Argentinian National team during this summers FIBA World Cup.
To these front office guys, all they care about is the product that they put on the floor from November until June, and understandably so. Rule changes and court regulations make for a difficult transition; headlined by George breaking his leg from crashing into the stanchion that is markedly closer in FIBA play than in the NBA. This will also bring about conversation of moving the photographers out from under the basket, which should have been done a long time ago. But the fact of the matter is this, injuries are inevitable.
These guys are professional athletes who are constantly working out and playing pick up games to hone their skills. Without question it was a bad break for Paul George (too soon?), but to say it only happened because he was playing for Team USA is ludicrous.
In 1998, New England Patriots first round pick Robert Edwards rushed for over 1100 yards and 10 touchdowns in his rookie season and he made the Pro Bowl. While in Hawaii he was participating in a beach flag football game during which he shattered his leg so badly it almost required amputation, and effectively ended his career.
Last year, Red Sox prospect Bryce Brentz accidentally shot himself in the leg while cleaning his gun, a similar case to Plaxico Burress, who also accidentally shot himself. In 2006, Ben Roethlisberger got in a serious motorcycle accident while not wearing a helmet and it nearly ended his career; and the list goes on.
Unless we put these guys in a bubble on permanant lockdown until game time, anything that can happen will happen, because that's just how life works. So to the people clambering for stars to be benched from playing for Olympic teams and other none pro team events, let's be serious. They could slip down the stairs at their house and experience the same injury. Should they be banned from going home too?
