Kawhi getting some hate by casual fans for not joining Team USA

[Raven]

well they do have a point, but who cares.

[weebo]

I think the US already made its point of being better than any other country at the game of basketball. It's time to give the Olympic game back to the college kids.

[Obstructed_View]

I think the US already made its point of being better than any other country at the game of basketball. It's time to give the Olympic game back to the college kids.

And you, like most of us, probably thought that somewhere at the end of 1992. That sentiment was kind of sealed when Shawn Kemp dunked with a hand on his nuts playing for Dream Team II.

[kobyz]

If somehow USA losing the gold medal, the media will give Kawhi hard time for avoiding the call up...

[King]

Kiwi is not a real American. Look at Kevin, a proud MVP going to defend his country's national team. He could learn a thing or two..

They could both learn from each other. Kawhi could learn about patriotism and Kevin could learn about winning.

[TampaDude]

"Get in my poster!"

[toki9]

Isn't there a bit of bad blood between Colangelo and Pop with regards to Team USA?

[Russo21]

Screw the haters. Kawhi played until game 7 of the final round last season, played until game 5 of the final round this season. He has/had a bad knee he was resting during the season before he LeBron'd LeBron in the finals. I'm glad he isn't playing. And as someone else said in here, I don't think Kawhi would give a about any haters he has for skipping the event. After a full on 2 seasons i'm sure he has some family and friends and some skanks he'd rather spend time and chill with then play more ball.

[Obstructed_View]

Isn't there a bit of bad blood between Colangelo and Pop with regards to Team USA?

There's bad blood from Colangelo because the Spurs whipped the Suns in the playoffs. Colangelo has taken it out on Bowen and Pop in his capacity with Team USA. Pop had to send a letter to him, carbon copied to everyone in the league, asking Colangelo to stop spreading lies about Pop's willingness to coach the team after he started telling the press bull to cover his bias.

[jimbo]

If I were an NBA player, I would want no part of playing in the summer. Athletes are already enslaved enough as it is, and people expect them to play even more than they're obligated to? off.

enslaved by playing a children's game

you probably work just as many hours as them but for a ty paycheck

Athletes that are good enough to play for team USA are blessed beyond measure imo. If I was one of them I'd feel obligated to play for someone other than myself. (AKA the US)

[Arcadian]

enslaved by playing a children's game

you probably work just as many hours as them but for a ty paycheck

Athletes that are good enough to play for team USA are blessed beyond measure imo. If I was one of them I'd feel obligated to play for someone other than myself. (AKA the US)

Nah. I work waaaay less than a professional athlete...and on my own schedule.

The only commonality is that athletes, like me, do something they claim to enjoy. However, as with anything in life, when you do something you enjoy with too much regularity and under the control of an owner, it stops being enjoyable, and it starts feeling like work.

[Mikeanaro]

Lol, enough is enough he dont wanna play thats great there is a time to rest some fatties can´t understand that, Kawhi is young and needs a bus full of pussies.
Too much BB already team usa thats for losers like Durant or PG I dont remember the media criticizing Klobe for giving usa his middle finger.
First he need rest and second he wants to improve his skills and third the buss full of pussies.
Im glad this season is over and when late october comes I´ll be fully recharged to see the new season.
Casual fatties want to see their players play like robots because they have no life and moving their asses out the couch would be a suicide attempt.

[TampaDude]

Nah. I work waaaay less than a professional athlete...and on my own schedule.

The only commonality is that athletes, like me, do something they claim to enjoy. However, as with anything in life, when you do something you enjoy with too much regularity and under the control of an owner, it stops being enjoyable, and it starts feeling like work.

^ this, tbh

[jimbo]

Nah. I work waaaay less than a professional athlete...and on my own schedule.

The only commonality is that athletes, like me, do something they claim to enjoy. However, as with anything in life, when you do something you enjoy with too much regularity and under the control of an owner, it stops being enjoyable, and it starts feeling like work.

Great for you. If you can make a living and work minimal hours, you've got it made. (I'm the opposite. I do something I enjoy, so I enjoy working a lot of hours.)

I just know I'd have a different perspective If I was playing a game for millions of dollars. There'll be plenty of time to do whatever the I want in the 40+ years of free time I've got after I retire. & like I said earlier If I were an elite NBA player, I'd feel like I'd owe it to play for other people because of how lucky/blessed I am.

Regarding the second part, wouldn't the Olympics/World Cup or whatever be a break from basketball "feeling like work?" They aren't working for an owner in that situation. Not just technically speaking with that, as a lot of these guys do those random summer league games like the Drew League anyways. Playing more basketball in their free time. Might as well do it for your country with other top guys against other top talent.

[Josh810]

Lol @ taking any internet comment section seriously. You can post a video of an autistic little boy saving a puppy from a fire and that will get hated on in the comments section. Get outta here with this.