Dwyane Wade, Ray Allen: NBAers should be paid for playing in Olympics

Ray Allen and Dwyane Wade, both of whom have represented the U.S. in the Olympics, are among those who believe players should be played for competing in the Games.

"You talk about the patriotism that guys should want to play for, but you (need to) find a way to entice the guys," Allen, who won gold with the U.S. in 2000, told FoxSports.com. "It's not the easiest thing in the world if you play deep in the playoffs and then you get two, three weeks off and then you start training again to play more basketball where it requires you to be away from home and in another country. It's fun, but your body does need a break."


Wade, who played on the 2004 bronze medal team and the ’08 gold medal team, and is a near shoo-in to be with Team USA in London this summer, told Fox Sports, while it’s an “honor” to play in the Olympics, “There are a lot of things you do for the Olympics. A lot of jerseys you sell. There are a lot of things you do. We play the whole summer. I do think guys should be compensated, just like I think college players should be compensated as well. Unfortunately, it's not that, but I think it should be something for it.''

Wade’s not one to reserve his opinion on compensation issues. Remember, he astutely pointed out during the lockout that the NBA’s top players—those like LeBron James, Kobe Bryant and Dwight Howard.

James and Chris Bosh, Wade’s teammates on the Heat and the U.S. squad, took what’s probably a more popular stance on pay-for-play in the Olympics.

“I love representing my country, and I’ve done it since ’04, and I’m looking forward to doing it in London," James said, per Fox Sports. “But I’m happy. It doesn’t matter (if I’m paid).”

Bosh would not say whether he agrees with Allen and Wade but added, “It’s a huge sacrifice that you make, but then you have that thing just like in college. Basketball players (in the Olympics) are going to make more than the lacrosse guys or the gymnasts, so it’s kind of a tricky subject.”

The U.S. Olympic Committee gives all Americans $25,000 for winning a gold medal, $15,000 for a silver and $10,000 for a bronze, Fox Sports notes.