Originally hailing from the United States, basketball has grown into a global phenomenon in the past decades. The USA remains the international hub for basketball, which it owes to the NBA. All of the world’s top players are trying to get there, even if many have switched allegiances to the Euroleague.
Despite the rise of the popularity of basketball in Europe, it’s clear that this sport is the biggest in America. But, other countries are catching up, and we’ll cover the most popular ones in the paragraphs below.
USA
The USA loves basketball as much as it loves American football. While one sport or the other may be ahead by a bit in different aspects, there’s no denying the fact that American basketball is better and more popular than European basketball, with basketball being one of the biggest sports in the US and not being as popular across the world.
The NBA is one of the most-watched basketball leagues around the world. It’s the biggest show on Earth, as outlined by the wild trades and crazy endings to almost every game. Even with the recent decline in viewership and popularity, the NBA is a global basketball phenomenon, and the USA remains a hub for the sport.
Serbia
There’s no way to avoid Serbia in the conversation when talking about basketball and Europe. The Balkans are quite keen on many sports including basketball, which is almost a religion in Serbia. For decades, Serbia has produced talent after talent, many of which end up playing in the NBA. Even if they don’t make the jump to the USA, Serbian players feel right at home with major European teams in the Euroleague.
Interestingly enough, statistics show that football is the most popular sport in Serbia. However, basketball is right on par with it, and the success of the men’s international team in Europe and on the global stage, as well as stars such as Nikola Jokic and Bogdan Bogdanovic, are proof of how big basketball is in the Balkans and more specifically Serbia.
Philippines
The Philippines is not a country we generally associate with basketball. Its national league may have attracted ageing NBA stars, but the level of basketball is not nearly competitive enough to stand up to European basketball or the NBA. But, basketball is quite a big sport in the Philippines, who tune in to NBA games night in and night out.
Statistics show that it’s way ahead of any other sport in the country. Here’s a fun fact – the Philippines Basketball Association was founded in 1975 as the first professional basketball league in Asia and the second-oldest in the world, right behind the NBA.
Lithuania
Lithuania is another European basketball hub. The Lithuanians have been producing great players for decades, some playing in the Euroleague, and others trying their luck in the NBA. One notable example is the father-son duo of Arvidas and Domantas Sabonis, who have plied their trade successfully in the NBA decades apart.
The basketball culture in Lithuania is at a very high level. Zalgiris is the leading club in Lithuania, even winning the Euroleague on one occasion. Zalgiris’ stature in Europe has been a big draw even for American players such as Lonnie Walker IV, who joined the team not long ago.
Spain
Spain is a hotbed for sports talent. It’s one of the few nations that are successful in many sports. Spain has bright football talents, great tennis players, and amazing basketball stars, too. This is because the country invests a lot in sports development, without which we would have never seen the Gasol brothers dominating the NBA for so long.
Basketball is the second-most popular sport in Spain, right after football. Some fans would say their popularity is on an equal level. The Spanish basketball league is one of the best in Europe, even if Real Madrid and Barcelona are the two leading teams. There’s quality elsewhere, too, with teams such as Baskonia and Unicaja attracting top talent.
Conclusion
Basketball is one of the most popular sports in the world, and despite its leading position in the USA, it’s popular all across Europe, too. The sport’s popularity is growing thanks to the NBA machine, which attracts the top international talent. Love it or hate it, you can’t deny its influence on modern basketball, and with NBA games across Europe every season, its influence will continue to grow and reshape the sport.
