I'm watching Michael Phelps padding his medal count by competing in like a bunch of different events that are basically the same thing except for length and stroke, and I'm thinking why can't the Olympics do the same for basketball. Kinda like how swimming and track have 100M, 200M, 400M for the same type of race, basketball should have 1v1, 2v2, and 3v3 events. Maybe also add a 3 point shooting event so non-NBA players have a chance to compete. A dunk contest event could also be possible and be graded on the same criteria diving/gymnastics are done. I respect Phelps and other athletes like Bolt but IMO, i feel it's a unfair that they are able to compete for more golds in one Olympics than a superior athlete like LeBron will able to in his lifetime.
Extend this to other team style sports (field hockey, soccer, water polo, etc) and you would have one ridiculously convoluted mess.
No one would watch and like Aleron said you can't put one team sport above the others so that we'd have 500 events in the end.
Just add more teams. 12 teams are far too less, especially when 4 of the 12 teams are GBR, TUN, CHI & NIG.
They should probably take basketball out of the Olympics altogether. The Olympics should be for sports that don't have leagues already. And you want MORE of it? I care zero for Olympic basketball.
The 2010 Youth Olympics did 3v3 and FIBA has a rule-set for it already. I wouldn't mind seeing that variant, though I think it would be even easier for the US to dominate. When there are fewer players, its even easier for an individual talent to dominate.
What teams do you want? Nobody is beating the US! It doesn't matter...Slovenia led by the dragic bros? Pakistan? Mexico led by Gustavo ayon? Greece and its Tmac spanoulis? Talk abt a ratings disaster, would honestly love to see ratings now if NBC were to broadcast Tunisia vs Nigeria prime time bball
Personally, I think Olympic team sports should remain team sports, just the way they were created originally. Although I can see a 3 on 3 hardtop challenge becoming an Olympic sport if becomes popular enough world wide just like beach volleyball did and debuting in the 96 Olympics.
I want to see a put-put golf Olympic event. ... and nerf basketball. And if poker is a sport, why don't they put it in the Olympics?
Maybe something else that is based on opinions . . . like a Slam Dunk Contest Ice Skating is kind of mainly opinion based [if it is not please explain] Rocket River