On the sidelines of Greece’s victory over Georgia, Greek coach Dimitris Itoudis raised one of the recurring problems for coaches in international basketball: the composition of a list of 12 players when defections and injuries are frequent.
Should the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) allow national teams to compete internationally with 14 players? Currently, the rule is to submit a list of 12 players, but it is still a difficult choice and can compromise the balance of a selection in the event, for example, of a late injury, or even a positive Covid test in times of pandemic. Asked after Greece’s victory over Georgia (80-67), Greek coach Dimitris Itoudis gave his opinion on the matter.
“It is important that this rule changes. National teams should be able to have 14 players available in FIBA tournaments. We are in an era of a pandemic, the level of competition is more than high in most tournaments and there are also injuries and the fatigue factor. It’s not fair that a team ends up with 11 players because of an injury. I see no reason not to have 14 players available. FIBA makes decisions based on the progress of the sport. In 2000, during the Final Four of the Euroleague (Editor’s note: which at the time was a FIBA competition), we had lists of 10 players. We’ve gone up to 12 players and now I think it’s time to go up to 14. I really believe there’s a strong case for this development.”he raised in remarks broadcast by the Gazzetta.
A suggestion that has the merit of having been put on the table. It remains to be seen whether it can actually be implemented in the more or less near future.
Photo : Dimitris Itoudis (FIBA)
