Well, I think it's interesting and important to consider why this particular group of players is so concerned. Each is at a point in their careers where, having had their salary limited to the rookie scale, they are on the brink of cashing in on their first potential max contract extension. The bargain has essentially been: "yes, you may need to earn less than your market value for the first few years in the league, but you'll be taken care of afterward." Now, they're going back to basketball after a long layoff, so they are especially worried about jeopardizing that opportunity that they've been waiting for. I'm not familiar with the particular salary mechanics of Bundesliga or La Liga -- are there similar constraints at work there that limit a player's earning power when they first enter the league?
I'm not saying the NBA funding their insurance is the right answer, I just see why they have particular concern more than the average athlete.