Editor’s note: This article is part of a multi-part series analyzing the current issues and perspectives regarding the NBA.
Untapped European Market
PARIS — The NBA sees considerable marketing opportunities in Europe, which could serve as a significant revenue stream. This potential is often cited by NBA commissioner Adam Silver when discussing his intent to establish a new league across the continent.
Motivations Beyond Money
However, another driving factor may resonate more closely with Silver, the 30 team owners in the U.S. and Canada, and the future of the NBA he manages. The league has seen changes in recent years, characterized by rising scoring and increased three-point shooting, alongside an influx of international talent. Currently, approximately 25% of all NBA players this season are from abroad, with about 58% of them hailing from Europe. For the past six seasons, and likely a seventh, the league’s Most Valuable Player has originated from outside the U.S., with a French player being chosen first overall in the draft for two consecutively years and the trend continuing since 2013.
Player Development Initiatives
Professional teams in Europe, which Silver aims to attract away from the EuroLeague, are involved in “academies” that cultivate players starting at the age of 13. The NBA has already committed to providing financial resources to support the growth of basketball in Europe, particularly in club academies, as stated in their official announcement regarding the potential new league.
The European Approach to Sports
Unlike in the United States, youth sports in Europe, particularly basketball, operate quite differently. Most children compete for club teams rather than school teams, and aspiring professionals are often groomed through programs run by pro organizations, diverging significantly from the AAU model prevalent in the U.S., which typically emphasizes gameplay over practice.
Prolific Talent Production
This player development structure has successfully produced household names such as Victor Wembanyama, Luka Dončić, Nikola Jokić, and Giannis Antetokounmpo, who refined their skills as teenagers before joining the NBA. The effectiveness of this system can be witnessed across various European locales, ensuring that these young talents are well-prepared for the NBA’s demands.
Cultural Differences in Training
Silver’s interest in tapping into these systems is compounded by the evident disparities in basketball education between Europe and the United States. The European ideology emphasizes a collective approach to the game, focusing on team dynamics rather than individual prowess, which has, in turn, led to an increase in skillful players entering the NBA.
The Future of the NBA
Silver aims to leverage these well-established academies to ensure that the next generation of NBA players acquires fundamental skills and basketball intelligence at an early age, similar to athletes like Wembanyama, Jokić, Dončić, and Antetokounmpo. Such initiatives could further enhance the NBA’s global reach and the overall quality of the game.
— Reporting for this story also included insights from Geneva and Berlin.
(Illustration: Kelsea Petersen / The Athletic; Jason Miller / Garrett Elwood / Andalou / Getty Images)
