Brainstorm to improve international basketball

 by "improved" do you just mean gain a little more  fan interest? Becasue a 3 game event once a year is not going to do squat in terms improving the play or skill of anybody. I dont even think international play needs a ton of improvement, dudes all over the world could ball. 

 by "improved" do you just mean gain a little more  fan interest? Becasue a 3 game event once a year is not going to do squat in terms improving the play or skill of anybody. I dont even think international play needs a ton of improvement, dudes all over the world could ball. 

 Better Officiating I guess.

 Better Officiating I guess.

 I think it would be great if the NBA "bought" a number of the top level teams and set up and NBA Europe.  Within a few years they might be able to incorporate an US vs US champhionship – maybe even mid season.  More interim tournments, similar to soccer.  

It might give a little juice to the middle of the season.  It might not be completely competitive at first, but it would probably grow global basketball and eventually provide some solid match ups.  It would also entrench the NBA as the driving force, as they are by far the most well organized basketball entity there is.

Let me be clear this is a "business decision" rather than necessarily a basketball decision to go this route.

 I think it would be great if the NBA "bought" a number of the top level teams and set up and NBA Europe.  Within a few years they might be able to incorporate an US vs US champhionship – maybe even mid season.  More interim tournments, similar to soccer.  

It might give a little juice to the middle of the season.  It might not be completely competitive at first, but it would probably grow global basketball and eventually provide some solid match ups.  It would also entrench the NBA as the driving force, as they are by far the most well organized basketball entity there is.

Let me be clear this is a "business decision" rather than necessarily a basketball decision to go this route.

For tournaments in order to be relevants, there has to be a tradition. Some international soccer tournaments are even older than a lot of professional leagues. So actually, in soccer, national team pride is way way more important than local club success.

My opinion on basketball is that its growth has been fantastic these last decades and it’s on the right track. Eventually there will be teams catching up with the US thus making the Olympics competitive and the World Cup relevant.

For tournaments in order to be relevants, there has to be a tradition. Some international soccer tournaments are even older than a lot of professional leagues. So actually, in soccer, national team pride is way way more important than local club success.

My opinion on basketball is that its growth has been fantastic these last decades and it’s on the right track. Eventually there will be teams catching up with the US thus making the Olympics competitive and the World Cup relevant.

When the US National Team is not involves, as was the case in Olympic Qualifying this past summer/fall, the international game is intriguing because the competitions are wide open. I think most people prior to the FIBA Americas would have looked at the rosters and thought Canada would have cruised. I certainly did not think a Greivis Vasquez-less Venezuela would have beaten them. I would not have expected to see Mexico perform as well as it did. Spain is the dominant force in Europe, but Greece and France took them down to the wire. I think it is a good thing for the game to see Greece, Lithuania, and Serbia go deep with squads that are not dominated by NBA players. It often serves as a reminder that some guys should not necessarily be out-of-sight-out-of-mind. Hey look, Vitalis Chikoko and Jan Vesely! It sometimes affords guys a second look in the NBA.

When the US National Team is not involves, as was the case in Olympic Qualifying this past summer/fall, the international game is intriguing because the competitions are wide open. I think most people prior to the FIBA Americas would have looked at the rosters and thought Canada would have cruised. I certainly did not think a Greivis Vasquez-less Venezuela would have beaten them. I would not have expected to see Mexico perform as well as it did. Spain is the dominant force in Europe, but Greece and France took them down to the wire. I think it is a good thing for the game to see Greece, Lithuania, and Serbia go deep with squads that are not dominated by NBA players. It often serves as a reminder that some guys should not necessarily be out-of-sight-out-of-mind. Hey look, Vitalis Chikoko and Jan Vesely! It sometimes affords guys a second look in the NBA.