[valentine]

Will the NBA always be the only professional league that sits atop World Basketball? Or will Europe and Asia catch up (or surpass) given the advantages they have in population, economic factors and rapid spread of popularity of the game throughout the region. 

Whilst it may seem normal, the structure of Professional basketball is unique in Global sports in that one country (United States) has virtually all of the worlds best players. 

Other global sports such as Soccer, Cricket, Rugby are different. The talent is spread across multiple countries, without major pay discrepencies funnelling everyone into one main competition. Eg in Soccer, England, Spain, Italy, Germany etc all have comparable leagues where players freely transfer. However one could not say that the NBA is comparable to a European or Asian Basketball league. 

This creates the opportunities for "Champions League" type competitions, which are even more popular than domestic leagues. 

I believe that in 15-20 years, this will  be the case. Salaries in China are already majorly on the rise, and I have seen the foundation being built for a "Euroleague style" League throughout Asia incorporating teams from the Philippines, Australia, Iran, Korea etc. If there’s one thing I’ve learned about athletes….its that they follow the money. And money in Asia is on the rise…and rise…and rise. It will not take long before salaries in Asia equal that of the NBA, and probably even surpass it. I’ve seen the same thing happen in Cricket, where India has become a total cash cow, purely on the size of the market. 

And given the spread of basketball in Europe in ‘non traditional’ basketball countries like Germany, Latvia, Poland etc, I believe that a similar pattern will follow. Creating 3 huge basketball markets, instead of just one.

This will create opportunities for a proper World Club Championship which will be highly competitive, and contested on an even playing field. If Europe, America and Asia all have comparable salary structures in place, it is safe to assume they’ll have similar talent levels. 

Therefore I have some questions:

• How long, if ever, will salaries in Asia catch up to the NBA
• Will this create a flood of talent to these areas, creating much stronger leagues
• Will the basketball community embrace a "Champions League" style tournament if it was truly competitive

 

 

 

 

 

 

[goldie92689Participant]

The NBA is in charge of the basketball world, not FIBA. That is a huge difference than soccer. The true world champ is the nba champ. The nba champ now and will represent many nations as the best players in the world play in one league. For China to catch up, they would have to :1. attract the best players in the world 2. develop the best players in the world. The USA develops the best players period, point blank, its not close. The USA national team could possibly eliminate its 100 best players and still be a contender internationally. 

I like the American system better than the soccer system. Internatuional players are not coming to the US for money as much. They can earn near nba money in several other leagues. They come because they need to make their mark in the game. In addition the American infrastructure is the best way to operate a global product. For example, everyone in the world speaks english. 

 

 

[goldie92689Participant]

The NBA is in charge of the basketball world, not FIBA. That is a huge difference than soccer. The true world champ is the nba champ. The nba champ now and will represent many nations as the best players in the world play in one league. For China to catch up, they would have to :1. attract the best players in the world 2. develop the best players in the world. The USA develops the best players period, point blank, its not close. The USA national team could possibly eliminate its 100 best players and still be a contender internationally. 

I like the American system better than the soccer system. Internatuional players are not coming to the US for money as much. They can earn near nba money in several other leagues. They come because they need to make their mark in the game. In addition the American infrastructure is the best way to operate a global product. For example, everyone in the world speaks english. 

 

 

[mikeyvthedonParticipant]

The highest salary in CBA (Chinese Basketball Association) history was given to Andray Blatche (who has famously played for the Philippines) this past season by Xinjiang. Blatche signed a 3 year/7.5 million dollar deal to play next to [Player: Zhou Qi]. So, at 2.5 million dollars this season, he would be at the 253rd highest in the NBA this season. Does not exactly seem like the salaries in China are "on the rise" nearly to the point of NBA salaries.

Plus, it seems that the "Champions League" you are describing is the EuroLeague. Their are domestic leagues and the best teams in all of those European countries compete in the EuroLeague. If you want the NBA to be part of that, the money would have to be right. Does not seem to be the case right now. Their salaries in Europe are likely much more competitive on the whole than China, but lets face it, the NBA makes more money than anyone else. The median salary has to be somewhere near 7 million dollars and I am guessing their are not many guys making close to that overseas.

Basketball is becoming more and more popular in some of these other countries, but in no way are their salaries near competitive to the NBA. Guys that end up going to China are not exactly the highest NBA priority, am pretty sure teams are not lining up hoping Andray Blatche is going to win them NBA games. Unless you can actually get data that shows these leagues are gaining on the NBA salary wise, it seems to be hugely wishful thinking.

[mikeyvthedonParticipant]

The highest salary in CBA (Chinese Basketball Association) history was given to Andray Blatche (who has famously played for the Philippines) this past season by Xinjiang. Blatche signed a 3 year/7.5 million dollar deal to play next to [Player: Zhou Qi]. So, at 2.5 million dollars this season, he would be at the 253rd highest in the NBA this season. Does not exactly seem like the salaries in China are "on the rise" nearly to the point of NBA salaries.

Plus, it seems that the "Champions League" you are describing is the EuroLeague. Their are domestic leagues and the best teams in all of those European countries compete in the EuroLeague. If you want the NBA to be part of that, the money would have to be right. Does not seem to be the case right now. Their salaries in Europe are likely much more competitive on the whole than China, but lets face it, the NBA makes more money than anyone else. The median salary has to be somewhere near 7 million dollars and I am guessing their are not many guys making close to that overseas.

Basketball is becoming more and more popular in some of these other countries, but in no way are their salaries near competitive to the NBA. Guys that end up going to China are not exactly the highest NBA priority, am pretty sure teams are not lining up hoping Andray Blatche is going to win them NBA games. Unless you can actually get data that shows these leagues are gaining on the NBA salary wise, it seems to be hugely wishful thinking.

[Hype Machine]

Enjoyable feedback….Nice to take the time to read my long thread. I wanted to talk about the potential for the salaries to rise in particular. 

I really wasn’t trying to suggest that salaries were equal or even close in the OP. One reply stated that players weren’t coming to the US for money as they can earn just as much elsewhere….This is incorrect, which was confirmed by the second post.

I was merely suggesting there was the potential for the market to grow based on demographic factors, should the popularity of the sport continue to grow. Imagine if an Asian Champions League existed with representatives from each of these cities, plus more. (Population excluding "greater/outer areas")

• Tokyo : 37m
• Seoul: 22m
• Manila Population: 20m
• Shanghai population: 14m
• Tehran: 13m
• Sydney: 6m

By comparison

• New York: 8m
• Los Angeles: 3.5m
• Chicago 2.6m.

This opens up huge advantages in domestic revenue streams. Think of the local television deals that could be achieved in Asia. The Jersey and Sneaker sales of Asian teams has the ability to dwarf that of the NBA. 

I don’t have all the exact data, but I have spent considerable time in places like Manila, Shanghai etc and the passion for basketball is amazing. They’re all wearing Steph Curry or Carmello Anthony Jerseys and trying to mug me for my Jordan’s. I am convinced that the sport is going to boom in these areas. Watch the Philippines fans at the FIBA world championships…absolutely fanatical. 

A salary of 7.5m over 3 years has been stated as the highest in Asia…which is chump-change by NBA standards. Without proper research, I’ll confidently argue this amount has increased exponentially in recent years. John Spencer, an early CBA import in 1996, wrote that Chinese players were making $200 a month, and he was well paid as an import at $30,000 a month. Thats about $200,000 for a season. that means a 1200% increase for Andrey Blatch, 20 years later. At that current rate of growth, an import will be paid 25m per season in 2036. That will be less than the NBA, but catching up. 

10 years ago, the Knicks had a payroll of 117m. This year, the highest NBA payroll is Cleveland, $108m, a decrease. (Overall player payments have gone up in the last couple of years, but not at the same rate of in Asia). Given another 20 years of insane basketball growth in these areas, I can actually see Asia equalling the salaries in America. 

As for the point regarding the need to develop local players….I doubt this to be true. How many England born players are on Chelsea or Manchester City? As is the case in football and cricket, the players are completely mercenary and follow the money. Ronaldo does not stay in Portugal because he was developed there….he goes to Real Madrid where the money is. The worlds best players (mostly American) will follow the money too. Perhaps they could earn 4m to be a bench player in the NBA, or 8m to be a starter in China. They’ll take the money…every time. 

Cricket serves as a test case, using India as an example. A third-world country with poor living standards, with a billion inhabitants, yet the best players from all over the world converge there because in the last 5-10 years, salaries have exploded. These cricket guys you have never heard of are making millions. I’d appreciate some Australian, English forum users to chime in, as they’ll have witnessed it themselves. Also, look at how China has skyrocketed up the Olympic Medal standings in recent decades. With a growing Economy and interest in the sport, they’ll also start producing a lot more high calibre athletes. Japanese Soccer is another example…salaries are sky-rocketing and so is the quality of the local footballers. 

My message is simple….Don’t snooze on Asian Basketball. Given increased interest in the sport, they have the resources to Dwarf the NBA. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Hype Machine]

Enjoyable feedback….Nice to take the time to read my long thread. I wanted to talk about the potential for the salaries to rise in particular. 

I really wasn’t trying to suggest that salaries were equal or even close in the OP. One reply stated that players weren’t coming to the US for money as they can earn just as much elsewhere….This is incorrect, which was confirmed by the second post.

I was merely suggesting there was the potential for the market to grow based on demographic factors, should the popularity of the sport continue to grow. Imagine if an Asian Champions League existed with representatives from each of these cities, plus more. (Population excluding "greater/outer areas")

• Tokyo : 37m
• Seoul: 22m
• Manila Population: 20m
• Shanghai population: 14m
• Tehran: 13m
• Sydney: 6m

By comparison

• New York: 8m
• Los Angeles: 3.5m
• Chicago 2.6m.

This opens up huge advantages in domestic revenue streams. Think of the local television deals that could be achieved in Asia. The Jersey and Sneaker sales of Asian teams has the ability to dwarf that of the NBA. 

I don’t have all the exact data, but I have spent considerable time in places like Manila, Shanghai etc and the passion for basketball is amazing. They’re all wearing Steph Curry or Carmello Anthony Jerseys and trying to mug me for my Jordan’s. I am convinced that the sport is going to boom in these areas. Watch the Philippines fans at the FIBA world championships…absolutely fanatical. 

A salary of 7.5m over 3 years has been stated as the highest in Asia…which is chump-change by NBA standards. Without proper research, I’ll confidently argue this amount has increased exponentially in recent years. John Spencer, an early CBA import in 1996, wrote that Chinese players were making $200 a month, and he was well paid as an import at $30,000 a month. Thats about $200,000 for a season. that means a 1200% increase for Andrey Blatch, 20 years later. At that current rate of growth, an import will be paid 25m per season in 2036. That will be less than the NBA, but catching up. 

10 years ago, the Knicks had a payroll of 117m. This year, the highest NBA payroll is Cleveland, $108m, a decrease. (Overall player payments have gone up in the last couple of years, but not at the same rate of in Asia). Given another 20 years of insane basketball growth in these areas, I can actually see Asia equalling the salaries in America. 

As for the point regarding the need to develop local players….I doubt this to be true. How many England born players are on Chelsea or Manchester City? As is the case in football and cricket, the players are completely mercenary and follow the money. Ronaldo does not stay in Portugal because he was developed there….he goes to Real Madrid where the money is. The worlds best players (mostly American) will follow the money too. Perhaps they could earn 4m to be a bench player in the NBA, or 8m to be a starter in China. They’ll take the money…every time. 

Cricket serves as a test case, using India as an example. A third-world country with poor living standards, with a billion inhabitants, yet the best players from all over the world converge there because in the last 5-10 years, salaries have exploded. These cricket guys you have never heard of are making millions. I’d appreciate some Australian, English forum users to chime in, as they’ll have witnessed it themselves. Also, look at how China has skyrocketed up the Olympic Medal standings in recent decades. With a growing Economy and interest in the sport, they’ll also start producing a lot more high calibre athletes. Japanese Soccer is another example…salaries are sky-rocketing and so is the quality of the local footballers. 

My message is simple….Don’t snooze on Asian Basketball. Given increased interest in the sport, they have the resources to Dwarf the NBA. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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