NBA in Europe?

[Celtics1990]

http://www.nba.com/2009/news/10/08/stern.taipei.ap/index.html


I think this isn't a good idea. Traveling from country to country for a road game seems a little crazy.

[JakeDean]

http://www.nba.com/2009/news/10/08/stern.taipei.ap/index.html


I think this isn't a good idea. Traveling from country to country for a road game seems a little crazy.

What if Stern created a system similar to baseball's AL and NL with only the the "NBA finals" involving cross country travel? Or maybe create a legitimate minor league system in Europe? Bottom line, the game will spread to other countries, it's only a matter of time.

[ACF]

If there's money in it, you can bet your last dollar Stern is doing it. That being said, I don't know if it's that crazy. I mean, travelling from Boston to LA to play a game is also a long trip for a basketball game. It would probably be possible to do it in some shape or form. And, as a European, I would of course love it. Denmark would never get a team, though. Basketball is not big enough here. We are probably looking at Germany, Britain, France, Spain, Italy, Russia and Greece.

(Edit: Spelling)

[wdleehi]

LA to Berlin. 


Anyone want to have to take that flight to play game 3? 


How about back a few days later?

[PosImpos]

Yeah, I just don't see how this would work.  Teams in Canada, Central and maybe even South America are plausible.  Heck, we already have a team from Toronto.  But teams in Europe or Asia?  Just doesn't seem reasonable.

Now, you could try creating more competitive leagues in Europe and Asia to rival the NBA, and then each year the champion from each league could face the other teams in a playoff, then we could have a true world champion.  That sounds somewhat plausible.  But NBA teams that are half a world apart?  Until every NBA team has a Concorde jet...not gonna happen.

Actually, make that a Blackhawk.

[Amonkey]

"There's some good possibility over the course of many years, that if there's appropriate arena development in Europe, there could be actual NBA franchises in Europe," he said. "That's the way we see the development of basketball in the world."

What does that mean?  If they have the right arena?  I think Europe has plenty of arenas that are highly advanced, just look at England.  I think that is just to say "if the money is there". 

"The model in Asia, probably in Latin America, possibly in Africa will lead us -- if there's adequate arena development -- to having NBA affiliated leagues, with partners in local basketball federations," Stern said.

I just don't like the idea that the NBA wants to monopolize the whole system.  Basically they're saying, if it's under the NBA rules, we can work something out.  Well, Europe already has a highly advanced league and other continents, like South America  and Asia, has some league that I believe are going under the FIBA standards.  I think the coolest thing to do is to do like in soccer (and they are doing in Europe already).  Have the winner of each league (or continent) play against each other on a quick one-and-done playoff games.  So this would probably be just four teams (NBA, Europe, South America, Asia) and the winner can truly call themselves the WORLD champions.  Until then Stern needs to get rid of that title and try to stop to monopolize the sport.

[BrickJames]

"There's some good possibility over the course of many years, that if there's appropriate arena development in Europe, there could be actual NBA franchises in Europe," he said. "That's the way we see the development of basketball in the world."

What does that mean?  If they have the right arena?  I think Europe has plenty of arenas that are highly advanced, just look at England.  I think that is just to say "if the money is there". 

"The model in Asia, probably in Latin America, possibly in Africa will lead us -- if there's adequate arena development -- to having NBA affiliated leagues, with partners in local basketball federations," Stern said.

I just don't like the idea that the NBA wants to monopolize the whole system.  Basically they're saying, if it's under the NBA rules, we can work something out.  Well, Europe already has a highly advanced league and other continents, like South America  and Asia, has some league that I believe are going under the FIBA standards.  I think the coolest thing to do is to do like in soccer (and they are doing in Europe already).  Have the winner of each league (or continent) play against each other on a quick one-and-done playoff games.  So this would probably be just four teams (NBA, Europe, South America, Asia) and the winner can truly call themselves the WORLD champions.  Until then Stern needs to get rid of that title and try to stop to monopolize the sport.

Uh, why?  The best players on the best international teams come to play in the NBA.  It's the world's elite league.

World Championship is the proper term.  The game originated here.

And it shouldn't be Stern's onus to overturn the name of the championship, which predates his tenure by a long, long time.

[BrickJames]

LA to Berlin. 


Anyone want to have to take that flight to play game 3? 


How about back a few days later?

Sure.  Gimme 850K a year to warm the bench and fly 2-3 12 hour flights a year.  Sign me up.

[jackson_34]

I like the idea of NBA affiliated leagues. The Australian league has pretty much collapsed and it would be great to see it redevelop with international backing since it was a very popular league (particulary in the 90's).

[ederson]

Uh, why?  The best players on the best international teams come to play in the NBA.  It's the world's elite league.

World`s elite league  and World league it`s not the same imho.

[BrickJames]

Uh, why?  The best players on the best international teams come to play in the NBA.  It's the world's elite league.

World`s elite league  and World league it`s not the same imho.

OK, so why should a non-elite league offer the "World Championship"?  Or why should non-elite competition have the opportunity to play for it?

Let's change the name of the World Series while we're at it.

[wdleehi]

LA to Berlin. 


Anyone want to have to take that flight to play game 3? 


How about back a few days later?

Sure.  Gimme 850K a year to warm the bench and fly 2-3 12 hour flights a year.  Sign me up.

Not worried about what they are making to do it.


I worry about the quality of play we get to watch with a bunch of jet lagged players.

[Eja117]

personally I think it would sort of make things more interesting. It would make home court more valuable and travel would play into it.

[BrickJames]

LA to Berlin. 


Anyone want to have to take that flight to play game 3? 


How about back a few days later?

Sure.  Gimme 850K a year to warm the bench and fly 2-3 12 hour flights a year.  Sign me up.

Not worried about what they are making to do it.


I worry about the quality of play we get to watch with a bunch of jet lagged players.

I hear you, but we have got far more important quality issues to worry about than JetLag, in my opinion.

[indeedproceed]

I think the bigger deal is making it a world championship between leagues. That would be interesting.