Why doesnt Steve Nash play Basketball for Canada? - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Beerfest · 09-08-2011, 10:14 PM

Im not sure about the exact story behind it.

Just wondering.

moon · 09-08-2011, 10:22 PM

I am pretty sure that in the past there was issues with insure in that if he played and got hurt his NBA contract would not be covered. Not 100% sure but I remember Cuban commenting on this. I think USA basketball and perhaps other bigger, better BB federations cover the insurance for their guys but not sure if this is still an issue or not.

As for a guess I would also think that with his age and back problems that he needs to limit his playing as much as possible.

Trojan97 · 09-08-2011, 10:39 PM

Nash was extremely tight with Jay Triano who was the head coach from 1998-2005.

When Triano was replaced with commentator Leo Rautins, Nash seemed to become a little PO'ed at Basketball Canada and stated publicly that he was leaving the national team to focus on a NBA championship. Many (myself included) see that as an excuse to not play for Rautins as very few seem to respect him as a coach.

SebC · 09-08-2011, 10:42 PM

Also, dude is OLD.

CofR · 09-09-2011, 06:27 AM

I also remember there being an insurance issue... Smaller tournaments like the Tournament of the America's aren't very appelaing to players on their offseasons, if Canada were to be qualifying for larger events like the Olympics then I imagine that we would see more player participation, but its hard to qualify when our best players don't show up.

With Rautins resigning hopefully things will be different. I heard some pure speculation of David Smart taking over, pretty good choice IMO considering what he's been able to do with the program at Carleton.

GirlySports · 09-09-2011, 07:16 AM

I see journalists are still ripping him. Come on, he's played for Canada since 1993! Nice to see Vancouver ripping their own.

Led Canada to the quarters in Sydney 2000, left the court in tears we all remember.

Led Canada in qualifying in 2004 and just missed. After that I think that's when the insurance issue with Dallas to not allow Nash to play in the 2005(?) Worlds happened. Then the Tirano/Rautins thing and that was it.

But still over 10 years, that's more than enough.

The Big Chill · 09-09-2011, 08:09 AM

Nash played for a long time and decided that in order to prolong his career he needed to just focus on the NBA. Playing for both teams can be very hard on the body, especially when you play like Nash plays. He contribute a LOT to the Canadian national team and should get nothing but respect and thanks from all of us Canadians.

habernac · 09-09-2011, 08:10 AM

not a big basketball fan, but how bad is our program if we get beat by Panama?

Locke · 09-09-2011, 09:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by habernac

not a big basketball fan, but how bad is our program if we get beat by Panama?

Panama has a basketball team?

Put on some skates you Panamanian basterds and see how much you like us then!

d_phaneuf · 09-09-2011, 09:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GirlySports

I see journalists are still ripping him. Come on, he's played for Canada since 1993! Nice to see Vancouver ripping their own.

Led Canada to the quarters in Sydney 2000, left the court in tears we all remember.

Led Canada in qualifying in 2004 and just missed. After that I think that's when the insurance issue with Dallas to not allow Nash to play in the 2005(?) Worlds happened. Then the Tirano/Rautins thing and that was it.

But still over 10 years, that's more than enough.

I thought it would be Gallagher before I opened that story and not surprisingly it was, he's a class A idiot

especially being in Vancouver he has a front line seat to all of the great stuff Steve Nash does not only for Basketball in BC but for charity in general. The Canucks do some great stuff with charity but as an individual I can't think of anyone outside of Trevor Linden who does more.

Pacem · 09-09-2011, 11:07 AM

Nash has already done his fair share for Canadas national program. The national program made a huge mistake in hiring Rautins. The national team has no one to blame but themselves.

Gallagher is a tool. Nash isn't being critisized because people realize what he has done for Canadas basketball team in the past. Pointless article. He plays soccer every summer. He is very involved in the community out here.

d_phaneuf · 09-09-2011, 11:10 AM

http://nba-point-forward.si.com/2011...nada-anything/

covers it very well

GirlySports · 09-09-2011, 11:51 AM

Also writers just can't compare this to hockey.

Canada doesn't have to qualify to major tournaments in hockey so it's easy for a player to just get selected and show up to the Olympics.

But Canadian hockey players don't show up for the World Championship after the season.. imagine if there was qualifying for the World Championships or the Olympics, how many hockey players would really go?

octothorp · 09-09-2011, 12:40 PM

I don't believe the insurance issue is anything more than a red herring. Loads of other NBA players play for their national teams, and while insurance for a guy like Nash might be more than most, I think Canada would pony up if he was willing to play. I do, however, think the Triano thing was a factor, as well as wanting to focus on his NBA career. And you can't argue with two MVP awards. Nash is still extremely involved in the national program in an advisory role, as is Triano. With this group of players, Nash is probably the difference between them qualifying for the Olympics and not, but even he's not going to make the team a contender. Depth is key, and right now, Canada has no depth.

The focus for basketball Canada should be the next generation. Thompson, Cory Joseph, Kris Joseph, Kabongo, and Birch form a core of likely NBAers all within a couple years in age; many of these guys are friends who have played together for years in the national program. Then there are guys like Pangos, Wiltjer, and the Bhullar brothers who are going to highly-respected NCAA programs and may make it to the NBA (probably not for the Bhullars) or at least have solid international careers. And that list isn't even including Andrew Wiggins, who is rated by ESPN as the best 16-year-old prospect in the world. Take those ten guys, throw in a couple veterans like Andy Rautins and Joel Anthony, and this is a potential contending team in the 2016 Olympics.

Once Nash retires, Basketball Canada should do whatever they can to increase his role within the program; I would love to see him be the guy responsible for recruiting for the national team.

GirlySports · 09-09-2011, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by octothorp

Once Nash retires, Basketball Canada should do whatever they can to increase his role within the program; I would love to see him be the guy responsible for recruiting for the national team.

I hope you're right but I have a feeling the suits will somehow hold a grudge against Nash and feel he is no longer needed in the future.

octothorp · 09-09-2011, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GirlySports

I hope you're right but I have a feeling the suits will somehow hold a grudge against Nash and feel he is no longer needed in the future.

We'll see what happens, but I don't see much of a grudge right now. He was appointed to their advisory council of excellence (along with Triano) and he is the face behind the program's grassroots youth program. I think they know that Nash is the best thing they have going. Although I also think we'll see Triano as part of the executive of the program if he doesn't get another NBA job in the next couple years.

CofR · 09-09-2011, 01:45 PM

What's Triano's role with the Raptors now? He stayed on in some capacity IIRIC?

It doesn't seem like there's a beef between Basketball Canada and Nash, only some uneducated members of the Canadian media grasping for a headline.

octothorp · 09-09-2011, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CofR

What's Triano's role with the Raptors now? He stayed on in some capacity IIRIC?

It doesn't seem like there's a beef between Basketball Canada and Nash, only some uneducated members of the Canadian media grasping for a headline.

Officially he's a consultant to the Raptors. It would be an ideal situation for him if he was able to stay on with the Raps in some capacity and also take an executive role with Basketball Canada. The Raptors encouraged to Gherardini to pursue a similar arrangement between the two organizations.

sevenarms · 09-10-2011, 08:49 PM

I remember the Sydney Olympics. Narrowly losing in the quarter finals. Nash didn't carry the team on his back at those Olympics. He was the team. Easily the best player at the tournament. One hell of a competitor.

Julio · 09-10-2011, 09:27 PM

Some discussion on Canadian basketball in general, including some stuff on Nash here: http://www.tsn.ca/blogs/tim_chisholm/?id=375520