New proposal agitates Serie A: there're already those who are ready to arm wrestle
The possible revision of regulations on the use of Italian players in the top Italian basketball league continues to cause discussion. In this regard, GIBA (Giocatori Italiani Basket Associati) has taken a clear position, explaining its reasons in a note circulated through its official channels.
“The analysis of the employment numbers of Italian-trained players in the top basketball league clearly shows how allowing the introduction of an extra foreigner in the rosters would constitute a huge risk for the future of our national team – it reads -. The rules in force today were provided to allow Italian players to have more space, grow and improve. Without them, many athletes, now top players, would never have the chance to prove their worth.”
“Already as of today, many Italian-trained players employed in Serie A are not eligible for the national team,” GIBA continues in the note. “Increasing the number of non-trainees would further diminish the space for Italian athletes without any advantage either in economic or competitive terms for the movement. The example of soccer, for which plans are being made to go in the opposite direction after the failure to qualify for the World Cup, should be a clear warning.”
“With the introduction of the NIL contract and the possibility for many young people to play in American colleges next year we believe we should give an incentive to training players to stay in our league. In any case, if it is true that some young people will go to the U.S., the problem will not be there already in two seasons because many of them will return to Italy and we will therefore have an important flow of players who can be available for our Serie A league.”
“A league without a national identity also risks losing the link with the public, with the territories and with the new generations of Italian youngsters who dream of making it to Serie A. If young people see less and less space for Italians, that dream will be extinguished. In any case, both because of the principle that rules cannot be changed in a hurry and because of the lack of certain numbers with respect to who will be playing in college next season, it is clear that any decision regarding eligibility cannot be discussed for 2026/2027.”
“To Federal President Petrucci, who has always been attentive to the value of the national team and the Azzurri athletes, we will provide in the coming hours statistical data, comparative tables and concrete numbers to support our position to protect Italian players,” concludes the Players Association.
