The basketball calendar continues to be a hot topic, especially now with the FIBA Windows break—which doesn’t apply to Euroleague teams—causing more controversy. Some Euroleague players, like Mario Hezonja and Dzanan Musa from Real Madrid, will join their national teams for the second match of the FIBA Windows. Hezonja will play with Croatia after facing Alba Berlin, and Musa, having recently recovered from injury, will head to Bosnia’s camp. Meanwhile, other teams, like Spain, have opted to call only players who are fully available from the start.

The scheduling conflict between FIBA and Euroleague, with no agreement in place, has frustrated both players and coaches. Chus Mateo, Real Madrid's coach, who will lose two key players to national duties, voiced concerns about the damaging effects on athletes due to the overwhelming demands of the calendar. With players having to balance national team responsibilities and a grueling Euroleague season, the situation is becoming increasingly untenable.

"It's a shame that the schedule is the way it is," Mateo remarked. "We have 90 games to play, and then the national team games. Everyone has the right to represent their country, but this is causing harm to the athletes." His comments reflect a larger issue within the sport, where no agreement has been reached between FIBA and Euroleague, leaving players in a difficult position.

Spain's national coach, Sergio Scariolo, also expressed concerns, explaining that mixing Euroleague players into the qualification process hasn’t worked well. He emphasized that Euroleague players deserve rest due to their heavy workload, and their club teams, which pay their salaries, suffer if they get injured.

Despite seven years of the FIBA Windows system, the lack of coordination between basketball's governing bodies remains a glaring issue. Mateo summed it up, saying, "The calendar is what it is, and the demands are what they are. Players want to represent both their national teams and clubs, but it's not easy to be at 100% every day."

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