Paul George's freak injury during a Team USA scrimmage last week reignited another debate on whether NBA players should be allowed to compete in international competitions such as the upcoming FIBA World Cup in Spain.

But for NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, George's injury should not stop players from representing their country.

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"Injuries can happen any place at any time," Silver said. But the experiences these players gain from representing their country are unique in many ways, he pointed out.

The NBA started allowing its players to participate in international events and represent the United States in 1992 when the "Dream Team" which featured the likes of Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird claimed the Olympic Gold medal in Barcelona, Spain.

The commissioner said the NBA as an organization envisions making basketball the top sport in the world and to do that, its players must be exposed in international tournaments.

With the game an Olympic staple for nearly 80 years, basketball is a sport of choice in other countries because it allows for easy participation, according to Silver.

He cited the impact of basketball in other countries such as China, where he came from a recent visit there. He said he met with Chinese officials to develop a curriculum for all schools in China.

Silver said the popularity of basketball in China skyrocketed since Yao Ming played in the league for the Houston Rockets in 2002.

He, however, conceded that the issue might be a "hot topic" among the Board of Governors when they meet in October.

TagsYao Ming, Michael Jordan, Dream Team, Liu Yandong