Tanjevic went on a rant against the NBA here Saturday following his team's 64-56 loss to France in the consolation game to decide fifth place at this year's world championship.

"The NBA, they do not care about us. The treat us like a colony," Tanjevic said, comparing NBA scouts to vultures looking for fresh meat.

"They don't make nothing for us. They always send the condors to us, always watching."

Events like the world championship give NBA clubs a chance to see the top young players from around the world and sign them to big deals, leaving scraps for other national leagues as they try to survive.

"It's a chance for the NBA to take from the teams young stars without giving nothing in return," Tanjevic said, noting the competition the sport faces for young talent from such rivals as football.

"It's a shame the way they behave. They have to help us," he said. "We will continue. But give us a chance."

NBA owners worry about having their top players in the World Championship for fear of injuries like those to France's Tony Parker or Spain's Pau Gasol, ones that can keep them out for part of the NBA season that starts in October.

And it probably did not help Tanjevic's mood that the NBA's two top Turkish players, Hedo Turkoglu of the Orlando Magic and Mehmet Okur of the Utah Jazz, did not join Turkey for the worlds, which they made as a wild-card selection.

"I think it's very important for the NBA players to play for their national teams," Tanjevic said.

"They do nothing for five months, they do weightlifting and like that. NBA players, they lose the time. Sometimes they think they are so talented they can make it back."

Tanjevic cited the example of FIFA's World Cup and the top football leagues of Europe as a shared benefit between a global showcase and club teams.