)
Some countries just resonate with certain sports and while people know this to be a US-invented game, basketball is huge in a lot of locations. We’re exploring the journey the sport has been on and places where the game is really popular outside of the United States. There are loads of places where players take to the courts and some get tens of thousands of fans attending the games – basketball is about far more than just the NBA.
The United States is the birthplace of basketball (as most people know). The sport was invented in 1891 by James Naismith, a PE teacher. It has been on quite the journey since…
The NBA, the most famous basketball league, is based here. Players like Michael Jordan and LeBron became global icons. In the U.S., basketball is a culture. High schools and colleges have vibrant basketball programs and there are also a load of academies around the country. The sport is deeply ingrained in American society and played by millions – street basketball is also a huge phenomenon. Courts across US cities see players of all ages and skill levels, but where else do we see this kind of enthusiasm for the game?
Australia
They call the Aussie team The Boomers and they are highly ranked in the world of international basketball. The Boomers came third in the Olympic Games in 2020 and have performed well in recent years – the best Australian basketball players have a lot of potential and the opportunity to even go on and play in the NBA.
Aussies are mad about sports and The Boomers are another outlet for the very athletic people of the country!
The Philippines
In the Philippines basketball is a national pastime with millions of viewers. People are sometimes surprised when they learn that the sport is everywhere. From urban centers to rural areas, basketball courts are found in loads of locations and Filipinos are passionate about the game. The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) is Asia's first professional basketball league. It was established in 1975.
Basketball has become a unifying force in the country as Filipinos may idolize players and it has a culture a lot like the American approach to NBA basketball. Games are intense and full of energy. The sport is ingrained in Filipino culture and massive audiences prove how big this sport is in the country – over 30,000 people have attended top competition games in the country.
China
With such a mega population, it is often beneficial for sports to get involved with the Asian market.
In China, the sport became hugely popular after Yao Ming’s rise in the NBA. Yao Ming is a towering figure in Chinese sports history. The Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) is the top league in China. Basketball courts are common across the country and many colleges have integrated basketball into their programs. The NBA has also tapped into the Chinese market. Games are broadcast live, and viewership is huge which can also bring revenue into the sport. Basketball has become a major part of Chinese culture and therefore sees a lot of players now aspiring to be professionals rather than just hobbyists. The sport's future in China looks bright.
NBA has become the top sporting league as an export to China as it generates huge revenues from Chinese rights. Deals like the recent re-signing of LeBron to the Lakers are some of the best examples of big revenue deals helping to push through high-profile superstars and make global headlines.
Serbia
You can see that the list of places where basketball is popular is extremely varied and even seems slightly random. Serbia is another European country with a rich basketball tradition. The sport is immensely popular there.
The Serbian national team is one of the best in the world, and they have a strong history of success in international competitions. Serbia has produced many NBA stars. Nikola Jokić is currently one of the most prominent – he won the NBA MVP award in 2021 and has become a global superstar.
Soccer and many other sports are popular in Serbia but it has also proven to be a great hotspot for basketball and basketball fans.
Argentina
Turning to South America as the next stop on the map. In Argentina, basketball is one of the major sports and the Argentine national team is known for its success and a real underdog story when they won the gold medal in the 2004 Athens Olympics (huge favorites the US could only manage third place that year).
Argentina has produced many talented players but one springs to mind for most – Manu Ginóbili is one of the most famous and he had a successful career in the NBA where he was known as one of the top Latin American players ever. The Liga Nacional de Básquet is the top professional league in the country and has 20 professional teams which goes some way to prove how big the sport is there.
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)