HoopsHype.com Rumors

Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski will not return to coach USA Basketball after the Blue Devils' season, he said Tuesday. Talking in a phone interview with ESPN Radio's "Mike & Mike in the Morning", Krzyzewski said USA Basketball will likely name his successor this summer in preparation for the 2014 world championships in Madrid. "I've loved, loved, loved, and it's been an honor being with the USA Basketball team," Krzyzewski said. "And to coach the team and work with [chairman and president Jerry Colangelo] for seven years has been marvelous. "And we're in a good spot," Krzyzewski added. "We need to keep building." ESPN.com

FIBA, Jerry Colangelo, USA Basketball, Mike Krzyzewski 

A person close to USA Basketball told USA TODAY Sports on Tuesday morning that it is highly unlikely Colangelo can convince Krzyzewski to return. The person requested anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly about the coaching situation. USA Today Sports

FIBA, Jerry Colangelo, USA Basketball, Mike Krzyzewski 

In an interview with Bifenpai, Stephon Marbury admits that he wants to coach the Chinese National Team one day: "If they gave me the oppotunity, I would accept it. They have to continue to work hard, I think especially on their strength and conditioning. But the strength part is more important because the skills are there, I think they have to add more things. You don't have to take away things, because I think they're on the right path in China." Bifenpai

Coaching, FIBA, Stephon Marbury, China 

British Basketball have drawn up a short-list of candidates for their head coaching vacancies with interviews set to take place next month. Existing senior men’s assistant coach Paul Mokeski and Maccabi Tel Aviv assistant Guy Goodes are among those who have applied for the role of successor to Chris Finch with a number of NBA personnel also understood to have put their names forward. MVP 24/7

Coaching, FIBA, Paul Moleski 

Mark Woods: Ricky Rubio confirmed he'll play for Spain in this summer's EuroBasket Twitter @markbritball

Minnesota Timberwolves, FIBA, Ricky Rubio 

Jeff Zillgitt: Also today, FIBA submitted proposal to IOC to increase Olympic basketball field to 16 teams from 12 for Rio 2016. Twitter @JeffZillgitt

FIBA 

Ajani Williams, president of the Jamaica Basketball Association (JaBA), said his administration will begin talks with a number National Basketball Association (NBA) players who have expressed interest in representing Jamaica at this year's FIBA World Championship final-round qualifiers at the end of the month. Williams said his organisation will be holding talks with point guard Ben Gordon of Charlotte Bobcats, Indiana Pacers centre Roy Hibbert and André Drummond of Detroit Pistons. "We are going to make our best effort to get these players and then we will see how well things pan out," said Williams. Jamaica Gleaner

Charlotte Bobcats, Indiana Pacers, FIBA, Roy Hibbert, Ben Gordon, World Championship, Jamaica 

Dallas center Chris Kaman hasn't ruled out playing for Germany if it qualifies for 2014 World Cup in Spain. “I’m up for (playing for Germany again). I just don’t know what Dirk’s decision will be,’’ said Kaman, who played for Germany in the 2008 Olympics and before only has wanted to play for the country if Dirk Nowitzki, now his Dallas teammate, is playing. “I can’t say no now. But I can’t say yes.’’ Sulia

Dallas Mavericks, Dirk Nowitzki, FIBA, Chris Kaman, Germany 

Emiliano Carchia: Rumors from Lebanon are that Loren Woods might get Lebanese Passport and join National Team Twitter @SportandoBasket

FIBA, Loren Woods, Lebanon 

Alvaro Martin: Albert Agusti, ExecDirGen of Spain's ACB: "we publicly reaffirm our absolute rejection of the [WCoB qualifying] project promoted by FIBA." Twitter @AlvaroNBAMartin

FIBA, Spain 

Alvaro Martin: NBA spokesperson: “There are no plans to take in-season breaks,” regarding FIBA’s new qualifying format for the 2019 World Cup. Twitter @AlvaroNBAMartin

FIBA, USA Basketball, Olympics 

Alvaro Martin: USABasketball spokesperson: "Newly-elected Board of Directors will study [FIBA 2019 WCoB qualif procedures] in its first meeting coming up." Twitter @AlvaroNBAMartin

FIBA, USA Basketball, Olympics 

Q: What do you think about the changes FIBA is making to the international calendar? Think we'll ever get to the point where the NBA takes breaks during the season like they do in soccer, so players can join up with their national teams and play qualifying games during the (NBA's) regular season? A: To be honest, I don't know. Unfortunately I'm not going to make it (long enough) for when these changes get in. You want me to play until I'm 40 years old? I don't think so. ESPN.com

Minnesota Timberwolves, FIBA, Andrei Kirilenko, Russia, Olympics 

Mark Woods: Feeling among NBA players, coaches is that international ball in mid-season is non-starter. Euroleague will oppose, say shutdown wont happen Twitter @markbritball

FIBA, Olympics 

The FIBA Europe Board has expressed its dissatisfaction with certain aspects of the planned reform of the global calendar, decided by FIBA's recent Central Board in Kuala Lumpur. In particular, the FIBA Europe Board, which convened in Ljubljana, Slovenia this weekend, reiterated its rejection of the FIBA proposal for a four-year cycle for EuroBasket, its flagship even and Europe's premier basketball event. FIBA Europe believes that the two-year cycle should be maintained. FIBA Europe

FIBA, Olympics, Eurobasket 

The Board, in principle, agrees with the introduction of windows during the season for the National Teams competitions. FIBA Europe has decided to have a full analysis of the proposed changes, informally through a working group and seminars involving its member Federation, and formally by bringing the issue before the General Assembly next spring. FIBA Europe

FIBA, Olympics, Eurobasket 

Yet one of the more interesting changes to the international basketball calendar involves the introduction of six planned qualifying windows for the 2019 World Cup that will be staged in November 2017, February 2018, June 2018, September 2018, November 2018 and February 2019. You'll notice, as you re-read that sentence, that four of those six windows take place at the same time that the NBA schedule calls for NBA players to play NBA games. ESPN.com

FIBA, USA Basketball, Schedule, Olympics, World Championship 

The notion of an international break in the NBA, however, is a complete non-starter. Even at this early juncture, one source familiar with the NBA's long-range thinking told ESPN.com that building breaks into the NBA's regular-season schedule is simply "not being considered." Not now and not later. ESPN.com

FIBA, USA Basketball, Schedule, Olympics, World Championship 

How big a deal is that? Not that massive, realistically, when viewed through a strictly American prism. USA Basketball will continue to field teams that qualify for every major tournament even if it has to trot out a pack of All-Stars from the D-League for most of the qualifying games starting in November 2017. As one longtime European coach told ESPN.com this week: "There's no way FIBA would go to a system that hurts the big countries. They want the stars playing in the biggest tournaments." ESPN.com

FIBA, USA Basketball, Schedule, Olympics, World Championship 

As we touched on the other day, FIBA is hoping to get three-on-three basketball in the 2016 Summer Olympics. While this sounds very exciting, it does create a lot of questions that could not be answered until the International Olympic Committee actually makes a decision on the idea. But if you are wondering how “official” three-on-three basketball can look, the FIBA 3×3 World Tour can give you an idea. Dime

FIBA, Olympics