FIBA Secretary General and IOC member Patrick Baumann confirmed that there will not be a 23 and under rule change for the 2016 Olympics.

"From a global perspective, the progress of the talent in all other countries doesn't go at the same speed or the same pace as the USA," said Baumann. "They don't all have a school system like the USA. So the ability for the rest of the world to produce a lot of talent is not the same as the USA. As a result of that, lowering the age to U23 at the Olympics could actually widen the divide between the USA and the rest of the world.

"There is also a more general issue of what the Olympic Games represent. The NBA, the IOC and FIBA, we have all earned a lot - not just in financial terms - from professional athletes being at the Olympics since 1992. This is the case with regards to the way basketball has grown, from where we were then to where we are now.

"So it would be premature to make changes in the quality of basketball at the Olympics, especially before having maximised the potential of the World Cup. So it's too early to make any changes in the Olympic program."

FIBA will, however, propose changes to the Olympics for 2016.

"We will certainly submit two proposals," said Baumann. "The first is we want to move from 12 to 16 teams. As a consequence of that we would be able to promote the game in four more countries and reduce the length of the competition.

"The second proposal would be to introduce 3x3 in the Olympics following its successful introduction at the Youth Olympic Games in 2010 in Singapore and the start of our first full 3x3 season this year."

With the 2016 Olympics in Rio all but certain to remain free of an age limit, Kyrie Irving is one of the players most likely to be on Team USA.

"While covering Team USA hearing nothing but raves about him," writes Marc Stein. "One of first names on 2016 roster."

Irving was the 2012 NBA Rookie of the Year.

The 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro are unlikely to be 23 and under for men's basketball, according to a source.

The NBA has publicly expressed interest in working with FIBA on a World Cup of Basketball.

But passage of a new rule in time for the 2016 games is unlikely.

Sources say that the NBA has not changed its strong interest in eventually creating a World Cup, with the target being the 2020 Olympics.

David Stern and FIBA are attempting to create a World Cup of Basketball that would make the Olympics an Under-23 tournament.

Several of the NBA's most prominent players have already spoken out against the idea.

David Blatt, currently the head coach of Russia, is also upset by the development.

“I would hope that the countries would be in an uproar about this,” Blatt told Yahoo! Sports on Tuesday. “Who is one country to determine for everyone how international basketball should be played, and particularly how the Olympic Games should be managed? It’s not supposed to be like that. If it’s a global game, it’s a global game.”

Team USA began to send professional players in 1992.

“I find it a little bit contradictory that the NBA had made such a push to involve their greatest players in the Olympic movement -- and the world basketball movement -- and now when it no longer serves the interest of the teams suddenly it’s not a good idea,” Blatt said. “So what does that mean? That the last 20 years were wrong?

“Twenty years ago, the NBA was in the same situation with its players playing in the Olympics --- all the big contracts, the risk of injuries. It’s all the same now. But that wasn’t an issue then? Why, because it was fabulously popular and amazingly well-serving of the economics of the game. And now it’s a bad idea? I don’t get it.”

Kestutis Kemzura also is against the idea of abandoning the Olympics as the top national team event for basketball.

“Of course (the Olympics) matters. We were fighting for this place. I don’t understand this idea of sending younger players, not sending our best to the Olympics. I do not understand it.

“If we leave everything on money, and money runs the show, where’s the sport? Where’s national team idea?”