When the U.S. men’s basketball team won the gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, who knew it might have been the foundation of an NBA champion?
Not Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert, whose superstar, LeBron James, decided to represent the country in the Olympics.
Not Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, the Canadian company that owns the Toronto Raptors, whose star player, Chris Bosh, joined James on the American squad.
Well, Miami Heat owner Micky Arison might have had a clue, and maybe that’s why his franchise is just three wins from the NBA title.
He might have had a clue because his son, Nick, was an intern for that U.S. team in China, where James, Bosh and Miami’s own star, Dwyane Wade, won gold.
Nick Arison is now a vice president of basketball operations for the Heat. He is a graduate of Duke and was the team manager for four years for coach Mike Krzyzewski — the coach of the 2008 U.S. team.
In fact, Arison was part of USA basketball in 2006 when James, Wade and Bosh played together for the first time at the world championships and, according to reports, began building the connections that ultimately brought them together in Miami.
So if you are an NBA owner now, you have to wonder: What kind of fool lets a young star play for USA basketball and create the sort of bonds that ultimately could choke your franchise?
Former NBA general manager Wayne Embry, a senior consultant to the Toronto Raptors, went on “The John Thompson Show” on ESPN 980 when James and Bosh made their decisions to play with Wade in Miami and suggested owners might be rethinking their commitment to USA basketball.
“I think we have to adapt to the changing times,” Embry said. “This is the first where three players decided they were going to collaborate and play together. … I am not sure it is a good thing. We look for competitive balance.
“I would advise that ownership take a hard look at this and find a way to not allow this to happen in the future. I looked at this whole Dream Team concept. … These guys are together for a period of time over the summer. You develop bonds and friendships. You got there by competing against each other, and now you are competing with each other.”
So will Russell Westbrook, Kevin Love and other young NBA stars who might be on the 2012 Olympic squad form the nucleus of the next NBA champion?
Examiner columnist Thom Loverro is the co-host of “The Sports Fix” from noon to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday on ESPN980 and espn980.com. Contact him at [email protected].
