LeBron cashes in on NBA vs. Europe debate: “Do we want Wembanyama and Gobert to be able to do this?”

Par Pierre-Andréa Fraile | Journaliste sportif

In addition to his 22 seasons in the NBA, LeBron James played several international campaigns with Team USA on the FIBA scene. He therefore compared the games developed in the two environments… and cited Victor Wembanyama and Rudy Gobert.

If there’s one player today who epitomizes the NBA, it’s certainly him. After all, LeBron James has been with the league for 22 years, and has one of the most legendary records in its history. To which he has also added a number of international titles, most notably Olympic gold medals. All the more reason for him to take a stand in one of the viral debates of the moment.

LeBron James weighs up the pros and cons of FIBA play

With the NBA lamenting the drop in ratings, Adam Silver is considering a review of its rules to remedy the situation. In particular, he could draw inspiration from the standards governing the FIBA circuit, as applied in Europe. A choice that would not necessarily displease LeBron, even if the latter adds a few nuances in his podcast Mind The Game :

LeBron James: There are some FIBA rules that I like. Obviously, I’ve played a lot of games on the FIBA circuit as a member of Team USA, and the physicality you’re allowed to play with in those games is great. That said, do fans really want the physical intensity to be playoff-worthy during the 82-game NBA regular season? We don’t know.

Undecided on this point, the King is also undecided on another possible change that would benefit… Victor Wembanyama and Rudy Gobert in particular:

LeBron James: Do we want the three-second rule on defense to be abolished? Do we want Victor Wembanyama, Rudy Gobert and all those guys to be able to stay in the paint without ever having to come out? Is this the game we want to see in the NBA? I don’t know.

On the other hand, LBJ is more enthusiastic about other potential FIBA basketball-inspired tweaks:

LeBron James: On the other hand, there are some really interesting rules, including the 40-minute rule. (…) It deserves serious discussion. I’ve also always been intrigued by the goaltending rule. Personally, I love the FIBA rule. Seeing a player interfere with the ball once he’s touched the basket doesn’t happen as often as you’d think. It’s harder than it looks and I like it.

As such, he invites the North American league to carry out tests, why not in the G-League or during Summer League.