The globalization of basketball is
a huge change that will better the sport greatly. As of right now, soccer is the most famous
sport in the entire world. The amount of
viewers that tune into the World Cup and the crowds that come out to see soccer
games is incredible. Basketball is
looking to gain this much acclaim and power in the world. The developments that are helping this cause
are the outreach and power of the NBA.
The NBA is reaching out to countries like Canada, many countries in
Africa, and Mexico. The National
Basketball League is the premier basketball league in the entire world and
every basketball player across the country would like to play in this league. Many times players will become the best and
most respectable players in their own home country’s leagues before moving to
the NBA to get the best pay possible. Players
like Dirk Nowitzki, Serge Ibaka, and Yao Ming, have been huge in helping to
bring the NBA to their respectable countries and spread it across the
world. Every kid from across the world
have people they look up to and if these people are playing in the NBA, then
these kids will want to watch the NBA and their favorite player play. The expansion of basketball in the world is
evident whenever somebody famous like Kobe Bryant goes to visit another country
and gets huge groups of people wanting to see him. Kobe Bryant’s influence in China is huge
still to this day.
One of
the reasons why basketball has begun to grow so quickly across the world is
because of how cheap it is and where you can play it. It is easy to build a basketball hoop in an
area, whether it’s on concrete, dirt, or a wood floor. The court does not take up that much space
and even then, a full court is not needed to enjoy basketball games. Whenever a sport can be played in a poor
environment, that sport will be able to touch many people across the country,
rich or poor.
A large place where basketball
has skyrocketed is in China. There are
over a billion people in China and these people are being influenced largely by
Chinese players having successful careers in the NBA, like Yao Ming and Jeremy
Lin. Whenever young kids see players
like this being successful, they look up to them and want to play
basketball. Another large place of
basketball globalization is in Africa.
Players like Serge Ibaka and Hakeem Olajuwon have helped largely to
influence the spread of affordable basketball hoops and balls in these
areas. The NBA also played their first
game ever in Africa over the summer, in which it was Team Africa vs. Team World.
Another large place that basketball growth has been shown is in areas of
Canada, especially Toronto. Ever since
the NBA decided to move up north and give Canada a chance to have large growth
of the sport. Players like Andrew
Wiggins, Anthony Bennett, and Steve Nash show the power of basketball in
Canada. Also, there has been a large
influx of players from other countries to come to America prep basketball
schools in order to better their skills.
Players from all over the country will move to America with the power of
their basketball skills and have a shot at a very good education and a chance
at making the NBA.
Nice post, I like how you showed the NBA and their effect on globalization.
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