Dream A Little Longer: NBA, FIBA 'Unlikely' To Institute Age-Limit By 2016 Olympics

NBA Reportedly 'Unlikely' To Adopt An Olympic Age Limit By 2016

For the past few weeks it's been treated as a foregone conclusion that the NBA and FIBA would push for an under-23 age limit before the 2016 Olympics, but maybe we all jumped the gun. The NBA may still push for an age limit for men's basketball at the Olympics, but they've got to work with FIBA, too.

And because of FIBA's massive infrastructure, it's unlikely that any change will take effect before the 2016 Olympics, according to a source who spoke with Sports Illustrated.

As Ian Thomsen reports at SI:

The NBA's interest in pursuing an age ceiling for Olympic basketball is "unlikely'' to be instituted in time for the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro, according to the source ... the source stressed that quick action on an age limitation is highly unrealistic for FIBA. Passage of the new rule will require the ratification of 213 national basketball federations around the world -- the sporting equivalent of the United Nations. The involvement of the IOC will further complicate the talks.

A change may still be coming, but it'll be more complicated to pull off than you'd think. Even for David Stern. And for the rest of us? This just means we "likely" have at least one more Olympics watching the very best players in the world, and just as important, another four years for players, coaches, and fans, to protest the NBA's widely unpopular urge to overhaul the format. As the world gets ready for the men's medal round games tomorrow, this is great news.

Players Will Make Voice Heard On NBA's Under-23 Olympic Idea

Billy Hunter, the chief of the NBA's players' union, said that players' voices will be heard as the NBA attempts to restrict the Olympics to players age 23 or under, according to USA Today's Jeff Zillgitt. Hunter sits on the board of USA Basketball, but the organization is seen as an offshoot of the NBA's commissioner's office. USA Basketball could change its own rules, getting around edits to the NBA collective bargaining agreement or uniform player contract, which would leave players out of the equation.

But if USA Basketball establishes the rule, other countries may not comply, which wouldn't help the NBA meet its goals. It could take action from FIBA to institute a global rule barring players over 23 in the Olympic men's basketball tournament.

Zillgitt reports that nothing is imminent. Jerry Colangelo, the head of USA Basketball, is expected to talk to stakeholders after the Olympics.

You can find a complete medal tracker at SI.com.

For more on the Olympics, check out SB Nation's London 2012 Olympics Hub. For more on Olympic basketball, follow the 2012 Olympic Basketball section.

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