Will the NBA expand to Europe?

[Scout200]

There's been a lot of talk about the NBA expanding to Europe... Do you think the NBA will give up home games in order to reach out to a larger base? How do you think this will impact the NBA?

[Big Penny]

Great idea, but near impossible to execute.

[Poe]

I do believe the NBA will expand, and I am very much looking forward to it. The more teams and the more countries involved... the better.

[Real Deal]

Nah, it shouldn't happen. Too many negative factors. For example, teams located overseas would have to be included in the NBA Draft, and there are college players that may have families (meaning, kids and a wife/girlfriend) that don't want to travel or live anywhere else but the states.

 

Traveling would also be a mess. Coaches like Phil Jackson would have already retired (he almost retired once already, and considered only coaching the home games, letting Rambis coach away).

 

Scheduling would be a disaster, due to the fact that it would only be ideal to have the original teams travel and play multiple games overseas, instead of one-and-done traveling, hopping on planes and making multiple trips like that per month. With 30 (or more) teams to fit into a schedule like that, and just six regular-season months to do it, it would be nearly impossible.

 

The worst part is, the international teams would suffer the most, having to play 50% of their games "on the road" in an entirely different country. That's a lot of back-and-forth, and as stated above, their schedule would be a mess because, unlike the rest, they would need to stack a lot of road games (and home games) together, and it's not fair to them or the rest of the league.

 

What happens if an NBA Finals team is from, say, Spain? And what if they have HCA? That means, potentially, four games would be played outside of the US...which, no matter how you swing it, is bad for our country and its support of NBA basketball.

 

International basketball is doing fine. They have their own teams, own leagues, own tourneys and own champions. We have no reason to play games outside of the states, have less games broadcast on local/national TV, and lose US fan support because it may mean we'll need to drop a few teams from the roster.

 

No thanks.

[Poe]

Nah, it shouldn't happen. Too many negative factors. For example, teams located overseas would have to be included in the NBA Draft, and there are college players that may have families (meaning, kids and a wife/girlfriend) that don't want to travel or live anywhere else but the states.

 

Oh, so when Europeans, Africans, South Americans, and sometimes Asians come to the USA to play pro basketball, there are no problems whatsoever. But if an American has to go overseas to play pro basketball, then you raise the red flag. I gotcha.

 

Traveling would also be a mess. Coaches like Phil Jackson would have already retired (he almost retired once already, and considered only coaching the home games, letting Rambis coach away).

 

Well that's Phil's problem, isn't it?

 

Scheduling would be a disaster, due to the fact that it would only be ideal to have the original teams travel and play multiple games overseas, instead of one-and-done traveling, hopping on planes and making multiple trips like that per month. With 30 (or more) teams to fit into a schedule like that, and just six regular-season months to do it, it would be nearly impossible.

 

Umm... has the thought of "overseas road trip" ever occurred to you? Play a string of games overseas, like 7 or 8 games over two weeks or so, then head back to the states and continue your schedule of home and away games as usual. Simple.

 

The worst part is, the international teams would suffer the most, having to play 50% of their games "on the road" in an entirely different country. That's a lot of back-and-forth, and as stated above, their schedule would be a mess because, unlike the rest, they would need to stack a lot of road games (and home games) together, and it's not fair to them or the rest of the league.

 

Same thing for Europe. An overseas road trip of about 7 or 8 games, then head home. There may be an adjustment to have Euro teams play other Euro teams more often than American teams so that there is less major traveling, but it's not complicated whatsoever.

 

What happens if an NBA Finals team is from, say, Spain? And what if they have HCA? That means, potentially, four games would be played outside of the US...which, no matter how you swing it, is bad for our country and its support of NBA basketball.

 

I don't know what HCA is, but as far as traveling goes, the 2-3-2 playoff format should work. Plus, I honestly doubt it would lose TV hits because one of the two teams is from another country. That may actually majorly increase the number of Europeans who watch the game. I remember the China vs USA game in the Olympics got about a Billion hits! Basketball popularity is absolutely huge in China, and I know it's very big in Europe.

 

International basketball is doing fine. They have their own teams, own leagues, own tourneys and own champions. We have no reason to play games outside of the states, have less games broadcast on local/national TV, and lose US fan support because it may mean we'll need to drop a few teams from the roster.

 

European fans don't care for the Euroleague nearly as much as the NBA. I mean, it's not even close. Lots of kids there dream of seeing an NBA game live. I can imagine the stands in Europe filling up way better than some teams in the states.

 

And there is absolutely no reason for US fan support to decrease because the NBA decides to expand to other countries. If anything, it might actually increase. "Beat England!" means a lot more than "Beat Minnesota!"

 

Besides, other countries deserve to be a part of the best basketball league in the world. Not just European countries, but South American countries like Argentina, and even put some teams out in China. Especially since all of their best players are playing in the NBA anyway.

Edited January 6, 2011 by Poe

[GamerGuy]

Travel is the biggest issue here. Playing 7 or 8 games in two weeks around Europe would be exhausting. From what I've read and heard, teams who played pre-season games over seas did not enjoy it. Sure, they enjoyed the experience of playing in another country and seeing the international fans and stuff, but it's a huge hassle for coaching and training staff.

 

And I'm pretty sure European fans like their own leagues plenty. Would they like to play against NBA teams? Yeah probably, but they're not depressed because they're not.

[Real Deal]

Oh, so when Europeans, Africans, South Americans, and sometimes Asians come to the USA to play pro basketball, there are no problems whatsoever. But if an American has to go overseas to play pro basketball, then you raise the red flag. I gotcha.

For one, you don't have to be a [expletive] about it, just because you realize you're wrong.

 

But, you'll get it right back.

 

Those international players come here to play in the states, and also to live here. And, how many do this? There are currently 420+ players in the NBA. If the league is expanded, ALL of them will be required to go on these trips overseas.

 

If someone like Kyrie Irving gets drafted to some team from Spain, he doesn't have a choice...either he plays "NBA" basketball, or he doesn't.

 

Don't compare the two situations.

 

Well that's Phil's problem, isn't it?

He wouldn't be the only one, but you wouldn't care to respect anyone's opinion (in regards to anything, let alone traveling) to begin with, so I'm not even sure if I'm doing the right thing by replying to any of this.

 

Umm... has the thought of "overseas road trip" ever occurred to you? Play a string of games overseas, like 7 or 8 games over two weeks or so, then head back to the states and continue your schedule of home and away games as usual. Simple.

Umm...you didn't read my post, or else you would've seen me talk about it. I won't quote it...just go back and re-read.

 

Your idea is busted, unless you have the same amount of overseas teams as you do US teams. Otherwise, the overseas teams will be at a disadvantage because they'll have to have more of those "overseas road trips" throughout the season, playing 7-8 consecutive games away from home more often than the US teams. Simple to understand.

 

Same thing for Europe. An overseas road trip of about 7 or 8 games, then head home. There may be an adjustment to have Euro teams play other Euro teams more often than American teams so that there is less major traveling, but it's not complicated whatsoever.

Worthless unless you plan on eliminating 10-15 NBA teams (or adding 10-15 international, lol), and it's not worth losing that many city's fans over.

 

I don't know what HCA is, but as far as traveling goes, the 2-3-2 playoff format should work. Plus, I honestly doubt it would lose TV hits because one of the two teams is from another country. That may actually majorly increase the number of Europeans who watch the game. I remember the China vs USA game in the Olympics got about a Billion hits! Basketball popularity is absolutely huge in China, and I know it's very big in Europe.

People travel to see their teams play in the playoffs. Lakers fans travel everywhere, clear to Boston, to watch their team. I doubt the same amount would all pack up and go to Spain, though.

 

If the Thunder and Bulls were to ever meet in the Finals, they would be close enough to rake in a lot of fans from both sides, all games of the series. But, hey, if half of those games are in London...not going to happen, because it's far less likely the Thunder fans will travel that far to watch 3-4 games of that series, and if it's a Game 7 in London...sad stuff. I feel sorry for the fans that would have to put up with that ridiculous [expletive].

 

European fans don't care for the Euroleague nearly as much as the NBA. I mean, it's not even close. Lots of kids there dream of seeing an NBA game live. I can imagine the stands in Europe filling up way better than some teams in the states.

Cool. That's why we play preseason games overseas. I'm all for that. But just because kids can't travel to the US to see one game, it doesn't mean we need to add international teams and expand, not if it risks us losing talent in the draft, losing interest in the US, and losing our sport altogether.

 

And there is absolutely no reason for US fan support to decrease because the NBA decides to expand to other countries. If anything, it might actually increase. "Beat England!" means a lot more than "Beat Minnesota!"

LOL, right...so when the time comes, and Spain plays, say, Russia...in the NBA Finals...do we all pack up and go to the games? Who are we rooting for? Does anyone care? I love basketball as much (or more) than anyone on OTR, and watch every single NBA game that I can, no matter the team...but during the Olympics? I was only interested in the US, and there was no rivalry.

 

Plus, those countries (ex. Spain) will have US players on them. What if two KU players (say, Selby and Rush) end up playing for Spain? One gets drafted, the other gets traded...do I root for them when a US team goes over there to play?

 

The rivalry factor makes no sense if these international teams are filled with US players and coaches.

 

Besides, other countries deserve to be a part of the best basketball league in the world. Not just European countries, but South American countries like Argentina, and even put some teams out in China. Especially since all of their best players are playing in the NBA anyway.

It's not like we'll be adding any other players from their country (enough to make a difference, at least). If we already have their best, the rest will still be playing elsewhere.

 

If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Other countries are involved, they just don't have our teams traveling over there and playing a lot of games on their turf. Too bad. If I was an NBA player, I wouldn't want to travel multiple times a year, across the world, with my family (who may not want to). If ten international teams are added, that could be 20 games I'd have to travel for (three of your international road trips).Those international teams? They would be playing against 20 NBA teams, another 20 games MINIMUM that they are traveling for (more, actually, because five of those teams you'd have to play four times, two on the road).

 

Stupid move by the NBA. Keep my league in the states, and we'll play those countries every two years.

[trutrojan8]

2 things Poe, HCA means home court advantage, and with your first point - Europeans, Asians, etc can play professional basketball in their home countries, they don't need to come to the USA. And also with your point, that's by an individual example. AKA Yao Ming came by himself, not his whole team - and we are obviously talking about whole teams traveling to play each other

[*Swish*]

Flights everyday. Players tired... NO WAY this happens

[Sħãlïq™]

Flights everyday. Players tired... NO WAY this happens

Yeah. Can't believe the NBA has a game in London in March. Maybe if it's like the last game of the season and teams don't have to rush back to the States.

[Doc]

Work on bringing basketball to South America, Mexico, and Canada first before you go off.

[bigdog17k]

I think the long flights would make this impossible.

[Kobe24]

Lol Brandon you really didnt have to go that far into detail, i think it is pretty obvious this is an impossible feat.

 

How would you have an owner buy a team to move internationally.. and you cant have 7-8 game roadtrips because there would only be one team basically.

 

Oh well

[Big Penny]

Yeah. Can't believe the NBA has a game in London in March. Maybe if it's like the last game of the season and teams don't have to rush back to the States.

Why not? There's nothing wrong with it, and both teams are getting long breaks after it.

[Scout200]

Nah, it shouldn't happen. Too many negative factors. For example, teams located overseas would have to be included in the NBA Draft, and there are college players that may have families (meaning, kids and a wife/girlfriend) that don't want to travel or live anywhere else but the states.

 

Traveling would also be a mess. Coaches like Phil Jackson would have already retired (he almost retired once already, and considered only coaching the home games, letting Rambis coach away).

 

Scheduling would be a disaster, due to the fact that it would only be ideal to have the original teams travel and play multiple games overseas, instead of one-and-done traveling, hopping on planes and making multiple trips like that per month. With 30 (or more) teams to fit into a schedule like that, and just six regular-season months to do it, it would be nearly impossible.

 

The worst part is, the international teams would suffer the most, having to play 50% of their games "on the road" in an entirely different country. That's a lot of back-and-forth, and as stated above, their schedule would be a mess because, unlike the rest, they would need to stack a lot of road games (and home games) together, and it's not fair to them or the rest of the league.

 

What happens if an NBA Finals team is from, say, Spain? And what if they have HCA? That means, potentially, four games would be played outside of the US...which, no matter how you swing it, is bad for our country and its support of NBA basketball.

 

International basketball is doing fine. They have their own teams, own leagues, own tourneys and own champions. We have no reason to play games outside of the states, have less games broadcast on local/national TV, and lose US fan support because it may mean we'll need to drop a few teams from the roster.

 

No thanks.

 

Excellent points! I'm split on the idea...

 

Travel would be awful but expanding the NBA into Europe makes sense considering the amount of talent that is continually being produced. Names like Dirk Nowitzki, Pau Gasol and Tony Parker, all of whom are from Europe, are now NBA superstars.

[Real Deal]

Excellent points! I'm split on the idea...

 

Travel would be awful but expanding the NBA into Europe makes sense considering the amount of talent that is continually being produced. Names like Dirk Nowitzki, Pau Gasol and Tony Parker, all of whom are from Europe, are now NBA superstars.

The problem with that is the fact that there's much, much more Euro talent that hasn't had much success over here, or that went undrafted because they underperformed in pre-draft camps.

 

Just looking at last year's draft...

 

#17 - Kevin Seraphin (France)

 

He was the only first-round pick, and he's getting under 10 minutes a night on one of the worst teams in the NBA, and doing poorly at that.

 

Tibor Pleiss, Nemanja Bjelica, Paulo Prestes, Ryan Richards, Pape Sy...all players taken in the second round, all doing nothing and will continue to do nothing.

 

Guys like Sun Yue and Sarunas Jasikevicius, who looked promising in international play (against the US), they never worked out. There are probably a hundred more in the last decade, guys that were on the radar, given the chance, and just didn't get the job done.

 

Dirk, Parker, Yao, Gasol, Manu...all exceptions, but they all didn't come to the league at once, either, and if we're going to get talent like that while dropping the majority of the international players like flies, I doubt it's worth trying to make it easier for those guys to get into the NBA. Players like Rubio would still have trouble dropping their current contracts to begin with.

[Scout200]

The problem with that is the fact that there's much, much more Euro talent that hasn't had much success over here, or that went undrafted because they underperformed in pre-draft camps.

 

Just looking at last year's draft...

 

#17 - Kevin Seraphin (France)

 

He was the only first-round pick, and he's getting under 10 minutes a night on one of the worst teams in the NBA, and doing poorly at that.

 

Tibor Pleiss, Nemanja Bjelica, Paulo Prestes, Ryan Richards, Pape Sy...all players taken in the second round, all doing nothing and will continue to do nothing.

 

Guys like Sun Yue and Sarunas Jasikevicius, who looked promising in international play (against the US), they never worked out. There are probably a hundred more in the last decade, guys that were on the radar, given the chance, and just didn't get the job done.

 

Dirk, Parker, Yao, Gasol, Manu...all exceptions, but they all didn't come to the league at once, either, and if we're going to get talent like that while dropping the majority of the international players like flies, I doubt it's worth trying to make it easier for those guys to get into the NBA. Players like Rubio would still have trouble dropping their current contracts to begin with.

 

Nicely said!

[Big Penny]

Dirk, Parker, Yao, Gasol, Manu...all exceptions, but they all didn't come to the league at once, either, and if we're going to get talent like that while dropping the majority of the international players like flies, I doubt it's worth trying to make it easier for those guys to get into the NBA. Players like Rubio would still have trouble dropping their current contracts to begin with.

That's another major problem that's essentially out of the NBA's control... the culture difference between Europe and the US.

 

In the US, if a 14 year old is incredibly talented at a sport he would be encourage to play through HS, go to college and play there, and then join a proffesional league... whereas in Europe they are encouraged to go through HS while playing for a weekend team, and then at 16 they would either leave school in order to play for a youth team... if they didn't leave school they would have to give it a backseat to their sports. As a result you would get guys who are 19/20 unable to join the NBA because they would already have contracts with their current teams.