Bulls Star Believes FIBA Should Adopt NBA Rules to Make Things More Challenging

The 2024 Paris Olympics concluded a couple weeks ago, and the United States came away with the most medals. Not only did they come away with the most medals, but they were also tied for the most gold medals with 40.

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One of those came from the U.S. men’s national basketball team. The men won its gold-medal game against the host country, France. It wasn’t an easy road to the top of the podium, especially with the very different style of play in the international game.

The international game is vastly different from the NBA game, and the style of play seemed take some members of Team USA off the top of their game. Some believe the rules incorporated by FIBA, international basketball’s governing body, are superior to those of the NBA — including Chicago Bulls star center Nikola Vučević.

Vučević spoke to Meridian Sport and said the NBA would be better if it were to implement the FIBA rules.

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Nikola Vucevic says FIBA would be more difficult if they played by NBA rules:

“First, the 3-point line in the NBA is half a meter farther, which is not small in basketball. The 3 seconds in defense is also a big deal… If they played by NBA rules, the U.S. would be even… pic.twitter.com/USZWoU33TI

— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) August 25, 2024

“If NBA rules were applied, it would be much harder for FIBA teams. First, the three-point line in the NBA is half a meter farther, which is not small in basketball. The three seconds in defense is also a big deal; I know that from my experience.”

“It’s different offensively, too; it’s much easier for me to cover space on defense here than there. If they played by NBA rules, the U.S. would be even stronger.”

There are a handful of key differences between the NBA and FIBA rules. For example, FIBA has four 10-minute quarters, its three-point line is 6.75 meters compared to the NBA’s 7.24 meters, and there are five fouls to foul out; once the ball strikes the rim, any player can play the ball. The biggest difference might be that no 3-second in the key penalty exists internationally.

The FIBA rules have some pros and cons, but it appears that the NBA would never make a move to adopt a wholesale rules change.

Vučević is a native of Switzerland, but he started playing in the U.S. in high school at Stoneridge Prep in Fontana, California. He’s played in the United States for most of his playing career, attending the University of Southern California for three seasons and being a first-round pick by the Philadelphia 76ers in the 2011 NBA Draft.

Vučević will enter his 14th season in the NBA and his fourth with the Bulls. Before that, he was with the Orlando Magic and the 76ers.

The Bulls are expected to be one of the bottom feeders in the lowly Eastern Conference.

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